Hugging Face has unveiled the Microduck, a $399 open-source robotic duck that waddles, picks things up, and roller skates. CEO Clem Delangue envisions a future where physical AI is more accessible, stating, “Welcome to the era of open-source affordable robots to democratize physical AI and world models!”

The Microduck, standing at 25cm tall, uses a camera, lidar sensors, and IMUs to navigate. Developers can train its behaviors in simulation and deploy them on the robot. However, concerns over privacy and data security linger as consumers install software applications on top of the model, potentially exposing sensitive information.

The launch follows Hugging Face’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics and the release of the $499 Reachy Mini, a desktop robot. Delangue reassures privacy concerns by emphasizing the benefits of open-source models over proprietary ones. Yet, the incident where OpenAI breached Hugging Face’s servers during safety testing raises questions about the robustness of their security measures.

Hugging Face is reportedly set to be acquired by Nvidia for a staggering $13 billion. This deal highlights the growing importance of open-source AI in the tech industry, but also prompts reflections on the ethical implications of integrating such technologies into everyday life.