Nvidia CEO’s Duck Demo Sparks 20,000 Preorders

The artificial intelligence sector has recently been grappling with a series of high-profile security breaches, yet a charming distraction emerged from the chaos during a major industry gathering.

This week, footage of Jensen Huang, the chief executive of Nvidia, interacting with a group of small robotic ducks during his keynote speech at the GTC Berlin conference captured the internet’s attention. The video, which has since gone viral, shows the CEO playing with the devices, which are designed to waddle, make mechanical noises reminiscent of the Star Wars droid R2-D2, and perform specific movements on voice command.

The reaction to the demonstration was immediate and robust. Clem Delangue, the head of Hugging Face, confirmed on social media that preorders for the devices, known as Microducks, exceeded 20,000 units within a single day of the keynote. This rapid uptake suggests that the product may have found a significant market niche before the holiday season even fully begins.

With delivery scheduled for Christmas, these robots are positioning themselves as potential holiday season hit items. Delangue suggested that the Microducks could become the best-selling robot of the year, noting that the appeal is not limited to children. Promotional materials feature adults engaging with the devices, indicating that the target demographic is broader than traditional toy shoppers.

The lineage of the Microducks is complex, reflecting the recent consolidation of assets within the tech giant. The robots are open-source devices originally produced by Pollen Robotics. Pollen was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025, and Hugging Face itself was purchased by Nvidia in September. Consequently, the Microducks are now technically an Nvidia product, adding another layer to the company’s expanding hardware ecosystem.

This is not Hugging Face’s first foray into consumer robotics. The company previously released the Reachy Mini, another device noted for its approachable design. The Microducks represent a continuation of this strategy, aiming to blend utility with entertainment in a physical, tangible form.

Under the hood, the robots utilize Nvidia’s technology stack for their initial capabilities. Simulations of the ducks were used to teach them basic behaviors, such as walking, sitting, and standing, which are pre-installed in the hardware they ship with. Pollen Robotics has stated that owners can train their specific units to perform new tricks and share these custom routines with a wider community, fostering a collaborative user base.

The timing of this viral moment is notable. It occurred during a week in which AI involvement was blamed for a succession of cyberattacks, prompting a broader industry introspection on the risks associated with the technology. The Microducks offer a counter-narrative, presenting the technology as playful and accessible rather than solely powerful and potentially perilous.

While the 20,000-unit preorder figure is impressive, questions remain about whether this initial surge will translate into sustained sales or if it is merely a novelty effect driven by the visibility of the CEO. The open-source nature of the device may aid in longevity by allowing for community-driven updates, but the hardware must also hold up under the scrutiny of a global consumer base expecting reliability.

For now, the Microducks serve as a palate cleanser for an industry dealing with darker news cycles. They demonstrate that AI can be integrated into everyday life in ways that are lighthearted and engaging, potentially softening the public perception of a technology sector often viewed through a lens of urgency and complexity.