Meet the $399 Robot Duck That Skates, Sings, and Picks Up Socks

Hugging Face, the AI company, just introduced its newest robot: Microduck. It's a tiny, one-eyed robot that stands under 10 inches tall and yes, it wears rollerskates. The little machine can zip around your floor, kick a ball, and even pick up small objects like socks or markers. It's available to preorder for $399 in four colors: cream, graphite, lavender, and sky blue. Shipping is promised before Christmas 2026.

What makes Microduck special is how playful it feels. You can control it with a game controller or make it chase a laser pointer like a cat. It reacts to its surroundings using a camera, motion sensors, and a laser-based scanning system called LiDAR. But the cutest feature is its voice. Every Microduck gets a unique sound when it first wakes up, and it keeps that same voice forever. The company says it sounds more like a small creature than a digital assistant.

Microduck is also built for tinkering. Its software is open-source, meaning anyone can look at the code and teach it new tricks. This makes it a fun project for hobbyists, students, or families who want to learn about robotics in a hands-on way. It's not designed to be a useful helper like a vacuum or a security camera. Instead, it's more like a curious pet that you can program.

The catch is that $399 isn't cheap for a toy, and it likely won't do anything truly practical. But for tech enthusiasts and early adopters, Microduck offers a charming, customizable way to explore artificial intelligence and robotics. Whether it becomes a beloved home companion or simply a fun novelty remains to be seen.