Jensen Huang’s Viral Duck Robots Spark Holiday Rush

The artificial intelligence industry spent much of the last week dealing with the fallout from a string of cyberattacks, a period of tension that left many feeling exhausted. Yet, amidst the digital chaos, a moment of pure whimsy emerged from a keynote speech, instantly capturing the public’s imagination and shifting the mood from anxiety to delight.

The turning point came during Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s presentation at the GTC Berlin conference earlier this week. In a segment designed to showcase hardware capabilities, Huang was filmed interacting with a group of Microducks. These small, waddling robots made headlines not for their processing power, but for their charm. They stomped their tiny feet, emitted sounds reminiscent of R2-D2, and performed specific actions like sitting or falling over for a nap when given voice commands. The video of these antics spread rapidly online, turning the gadgets into a viral sensation overnight.

The reaction from consumers was immediate and enthusiastic. By the day following the keynote, preorders for the devices had surpassed the 20,000-unit mark. Clem Delangue of Hugging Face confirmed this milestone via social media, noting the unexpected velocity of sales. Given the current timing, these units are expected to arrive before the winter holidays, placing the Microducks in a strong position to become a top-selling toy of the season.

Delangue suggested that the robots could finish the year as the best-selling unit in their category. Interestingly, he noted that the appeal may not be limited to children. Promotional materials have featured adults playing with the devices, suggesting a broader demographic appeal that extends beyond traditional gift-giving targets for young kids.

The Microducks are open-source devices originally created by Pollen Robotics. That company was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025. Since Nvidia purchased Hugging Face in September, the robots are now part of the GPU giant’s portfolio. This marks the second robot product for the team, following the release of the Reachy Mini. The devices are trained using Nvidia’s technology stack, where simulations teach them basic movements like walking, sitting, and standing before they are shipped to customers.

Pollen Robotics has also emphasized community engagement, stating that owners can teach their robots new tricks and share those customizations with others. As the tech world looks ahead, the Microducks offer a lighthearted contrast to recent headlines. While AI continues to be a source of complex global issues, these tiny, stumbling ducks serve as a reminder that the technology can also be a source of simple joy, making it difficult to resist the urge to order one for the holidays.