Hugging Face launces a $299 desktop 11 inch humanoid AI robot

Hugging Face has launched Reachy Mini, a $299 desktop robot aimed at democratizing AI-powered robotics development. This 11-inch humanoid, designed for developers, breaks the high-cost, closed-source mold of traditional robotics. With 10 million users, Hugging Face's CEO, Clément Delangue, emphasized accessibility as a crucial factor for advancing robotics.

Reachy Mini features six degrees of freedom, a wide-angle camera, and comes as a DIY kit. The robot integrates with Hugging Face Hub, allowing developers to share applications. This open-source strategy empowers users and could potentially attract extensive innovation.

Delangue points out the importance of transparency in robotics, stating, “I think it’s going to fight concentration of power.” The company faces challenges in transitioning to hardware but aims to make robotics more accessible for education and research, signaling a potential shift in the industry toward open-source principles.