Updated
Updated · CNBC · Sep 1
Hugging Face's Microduck Sells 10,000 Units, Pushing $4 Million in Sales
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Sep 1

Hugging Face's Microduck Sells 10,000 Units, Pushing $4 Million in Sales

3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Sep 1

Summary

  • More than 10,000 Microduck robots sold within days of Thursday's launch, generating over $4 million at a $399 price and pushing new-order deliveries beyond the original Christmas 2026 target.
  • The 800-gram programmable robot runs on Rockchip's RK3566 chip, which uses ARM technology, underscoring how consumer AI hardware still depends on a cross-border supply chain.
  • Rockchip has become a key supplier for on-device AI and machine-vision uses; the Shanghai-listed company reported first-half revenue up 40% to 2.88 billion yuan and adjusted net profit up more than 60%.
  • Microduck is Hugging Face's second robot from Pollen Robotics, the French startup it bought last year, and follows an earlier model that also topped 10,000 unit sales.
  • The surge comes as personal robotics heats up: Zeroth is selling an 8,888-yuan humanoid with 247 JD.com pre-orders, while Mondo Robotics has raised more than 80 times its $50,000 Kickstarter goal.

Insights

Will Microduck's focus on physical actions over conversation redefine what consumers expect from affordable home robotics?
Can a $399 offline robot truly protect user privacy while handling complex AI tasks locally without cloud reliance?
How might global supply chain tensions impact the production of this popular Chinese-powered, French-designed robot?