Hugging Face Unveils Affordable Open-Source Humanoid Robots for AI Development

Hugging Face hopes to bring a humanoid robot to market for just $3,000

Hugging Face is best known as a platform for machine learning and AI development, but it has also been dabbling in the world of robotics. This week, the company revealed two new robots it plans to bring to market -- including a humanoid one that it would sell for around $3,000, far less than many of the other options that have been floated, like Unitree's $16,000 G1. Dubbed the HopeJR, Hugging Face's robot has up to 66 actuated degrees of freedom. According to Hugging Face Principal Research Scientist Remi Cadene, it can walk and manipulate objects. As shown in a short X video, it has an accessible look that reminds us a bit of Bender from Futurama. (It's the eyes.) Co-designed with French robotics company The Robot Studio, HopeJR will be open source. "The important aspect is that these robots are open source, so anyone can assemble, rebuild, [and] understand how they work, and [they're] affordable, so that robotics doesn't get dominated by just a few big players with dangerous black-box systems," Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue told TechCrunch. You may have noticed he said "robots" plural -- that's because there's a second one. It's called Reachy Mini, and it looks like a cute, Wall-E-esque statue bust that can turn its head and talk to the user. Among other things, it's meant to be used to test AI applications, and it'll run between $250 and $300. You can sort of think of these products as the equivalent to a Raspberry Pi, but in robot form and for AI developers -- Hugging Face's main customer base. Hugging Face has previously released AI models meant for robots, as well as a 3D-printable robotic arm. This year, it announced an acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a company that was working on humanoid robots. Hugging Face's aforementioned robotics research lead Remi Cadene came to the company by way of Tesla. For context on the pricing, Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot (while admittedly much more advanced, at least in theory) is expected to cost at least $20,000. There is a lot of investment in robotics like this, but there are still big barriers -- and price isn't the only one. There's battery life, for example; Unitree's G1 only runs for about two hours on a single charge.

Hugging Face unveils two new humanoid robots | TechCrunch

AI dev platform Hugging Face continued its push into robotics on Thursday with the release of two new humanoid robots. The company announced a pair of open-source robots, HopeJR and Reachy Mini. HopeJR is a full-size humanoid robot that has 66 actuated degrees of freedom, or 66 independent movements, including the ability to walk and move its arms. Reachy Mini is a desktop unit that can move its head, talk, listen, and be used to test AI apps. Hugging Face doesn't have an exact timeline for shipping these robots. The company's co-founder and CEO, Clem Delangue, told TechCrunch over email that they expect to start shipping at least the first few units by the end of the year, and the waitlist is currently open. Hugging Face estimates that the HopeJR will cost around $3,000 per unit and the Reachy Mini will cost around $250-$300, depending on tariffs. "The important aspect is that these robots are open source, so anyone can assemble, rebuild, [and] understand how they work, and [that they're] affordable, so that robotics doesn't get dominated by just a few big players with dangerous black-box systems," Delangue said via email. This robot release was made possible in part by the company's acquisition of humanoid robotics startup Pollen Robotics, which was announced in April, according to Delangue. He added that the Pollen team gave Hugging Face "new capabilities" required to make these bots. Hugging Face has been making a concerted push into the robotics industry over the past few years. It launched LeRobot, a collection of open AI models, data sets, and tools to build robotics systems, in 2024. So far in 2025, the company has released an updated version of its 3D-printed and programmable robotic arm, the SO-101, which the company built in a partnership with French robotics firm The Robot Studio. It also expanded the training data on its LeRobot platform, through a partnership with AI startup Yaak, to include training data for self-driving machines.

You Can Soon Own A Humanoid Robot for Just $3,000

Hugging Face's new robots are in some cases over $10,000 cheaper than comparable models from rival manufacturers. Your dream of owning a humanoid robot is now close to being a (surprisingly affordable) reality, TechCrunch reports. French AI firm Hugging Face showcased the HopeJR and Reachy Mini earlier this week, two open-source, fully programmable robots. The higher-end HopeJR, which starts at $3,000, can walk and manipulate objects unassisted, boasting 66 independently controllable movements. As it's open source, you won't be tied to using software released by Hugging Face forever, enabling developers all over the world to program ways to use your new machine. The company's CEO, Clem Delangue, said the robots would help make sure "that robotics doesn't get dominated by just a few big players with dangerous black-box systems," in an email to TechCrunch. Meanwhile, the Reachy Mini, a small desktop unit that can only move its head, talk, and listen, will cost a mere $250 to $300. Though $3,000 isn't cheap for most, it certainly blows its competition out of the water -- at least if you compare only on price. Tesla's Optimus, pegged for release sometime in late 2025, is predicted to cost up to $30,000. The Unitree G1, meanwhile, costs up to $16,000. Industrial-quality humanoid robots like the Boston Dynamics Atlas can even retail for up to $500,000. We don't know exactly when Hugging Face's robots are set to roll out, but the company's CEO told TechCrunch they plan to ship "at least the first few units" by the end of 2025. The new robots come after Hugging Face acquired fellow French startup Pollen in April, whose technology formed the basis of the HopeJR, according to Delangue. The waiting list for the robots is already open, though you'll need to reach out to the CEO personally on X as they haven't added a form to their website at the time of writing. The introduction of budget-friendly humanoid robots comes at an interesting time; Meta announced in February that it was working on software that can power robots built by other companies -- like Android does for smartphones -- instead of launching its own Meta-branded robot. Tech giants like Nvidia have also been extremely bullish on the future of humanoid robotics, with CEO Jensen Huang predicting earlier this year that the market for humanoid robotics could hit $38 billion in the coming decades, claiming that "the ChatGPT moment for general robotics is just around the corner."

Hugging Face unveils affordable humanoid robots for AI development

AI development company Hugging Face has expanded its presence in robotics by launching two open-source humanoid robots. The release of HopeJR and Reachy Mini marks a significant step in the company's push into AI-powered robotics development. HopeJR is a full-sized humanoid that enables lifelike walking and arm movement. In contrast, Reachy Mini is a compact desktop unit designed for developers to test AI applications. In April, Hugging Face made its first major move into hardware by acquiring French startup Pollen Robotics, the developers behind the open-source humanoid robot Reachy 2. Hugging Face has introduced two new open-source humanoid robots to make advanced robotics more accessible. The first, HopeJR, is a full-size humanoid robot featuring 66 actuated degrees of freedom. This allows for a wide range of independent movements, including walking and complex arm gestures, making it a capable platform for research and experimentation. According to TechCrunch, Hugging Face aims to keep HopeJR affordable, with an expected price of around $3,000 -- significantly lower than many full-scale humanoid systems -- positioning it as a practical option for robotics researchers, developers, and enthusiasts. The second robot, Reachy Mini, is a compact desktop unit for testing artificial intelligence applications. Although it is smaller, it possesses head movement capabilities and the ability to speak and process auditory input. With a projected price of $250 to $300 based on international tariffs, Reachy Mini provides an affordable entry point for AI and robotics development. Hugging Face intends to promote open development and innovation in robotics driven by the community through these two robots. Hugging Face has set no specific timeline for shipping the new robots. Nevertheless, according to TechCrunch, the firm anticipates providing the first several units by year's end. A waitlist is currently open for interested buyers.

Hugging Face introduces two open-source robot designs - SiliconANGLE

Hugging Face Inc. has open-sourced the blueprints of two internally-developed robots called HopeJR and Reachy Mini. The company debuted the machines on Thursday. Hugging Face is backed by more than $390 million in funding from Nvidia Corp., IBM Corp. and other investors. It operates a GitHub-like platform for sharing open-source artificial intelligence projects. Hugging Face says that its platform hosts more than 1 million AI models, hundreds of thousands of datasets and various other technical assets. The company started prioritizing robotics last year after launching LeRobot, a section of its platform dedicated to autonomous machines. The portal provides access to AI models for powering robots and datasets that can be used to train those models. Hugging Face released its first hardware blueprint, a robotic arm design called the SO-100, late last year. The SO-100 was developed in partnership with a startup called The Robot Studio. Hugging Face also collaborated with the company on the HopeJR, the first new robot that debuted this week. According to TechCrunch, it's a humanoid robot that can perform 66 movements including walking. HopeJR is equipped with a pair of robotic arms that can be remotely controlled by a human using a pair of specialized, chip-equipped gloves. HopeJR's arms replicate the movements made by the wearer of the gloves. A demo video shared by Hugging Face showed that the robot can shake hands, point to a specific text snippet on a piece of paper and perform other tasks. Hugging Face's other new robot, the Reachy Mini, likewise features an open-source design. It's based on technology that the company obtained through the acquisition of a venture-backed startup called Pollen Robotics earlier this year. Reachy Mini is a turtle-like robot that comes in a rectangular case. Its main mechanical feature is a retractable neck that allows it to follow the user with its head or withdraw into the case. This case, which is stationary, is compact and lightweight enough to be placed on a desk. A few years prior to its acquisition by Hugging Face, Pollen Robotics detailed an internally-developed robot neck design. The module moves using a custom actuator dubbed Orbita. At the time, Polled Robotics detailed that Orbita was powered by multiple compact motors from a Swiss company called Maxon Motor AG. Hugging Face envisions customers using Reachy Mini to develop AI applications. An industrial automation company, for example, might wish to train an AI model that allows its robots to interact with human workers on the factory floor. Reachy Mini could be used to test such software before deploying it to production. Hugging Face will sell pre-assembled versions of the Reach Mini and HopeJR for about $250 and $3,000, respectively. The company expects to ship the first units by the end of the year. Because both robots' blueprints are available under an open-source license, companies can assemble their own versions of the machines and make customizations.

Hugging Face Introduces Two Open-Source Humanoid Robots | AIM

HopeJR is a full-sized humanoid robot featuring 66 actuated degrees of freedom, while Reachy Mini is a desktop unit for AI application testing. Hugging Face, a leader in open-source AI, announced the release of two open-source humanoid robots, HopeJR and Reachy Mini. The unveiling occurred as part of the company's ongoing expansion into robotics, following its acquisition of Pollen Robotics in April. HopeJR is a full-sized humanoid robot featuring 66 actuated degrees of freedom, enabling it to walk and manipulate objects. Reachy Mini is a desktop unit designed for AI application testing and is capable of head movement, speech, and auditory interaction. Clem Delangue, co-founder and CEO of Hugging Face, stated that the company anticipates shipping initial units by the end of the year, with a waitlist currently open. HopeJR is expected to be priced around $3,000, while Reachy Mini will be around $300, subject to tariffs. Delangue emphasised the significance of the robots' open-source nature, noting to TechCrunch, "The important aspect is that these robots are open source, so anyone can assemble, rebuild, [and] understand how they work, and [that they're] affordable, so that robotics doesn't get dominated by just a few big players with dangerous black-box systems." Hugging Face's acquisition of Pollen Robotics facilitated the development of these robots, providing the company with the new capabilities necessary for their creation. This move aligns with Hugging Face's broader strategy to democratise AI and robotics, as evidenced by their 2024 launch of LeRobot, a collection of open AI models, datasets, and tools for building robotic systems. End of last month, Hugging Face also released an updated version of its 3D-printed, programmable robotic arm, the SO-101, developed in partnership with French robotics firm The Robot Studio. Additionally, the company expanded the training data on its LeRobot platform through a collaboration with AI startup Yaak, incorporating data for self-driving machines. With the introduction of HopeJR and Reachy Mini, Hugging Face aims to lower the barriers to entry in robotics, promoting accessibility and innovation in the field.

HopeJR and Reachy Mini robots from Hugging Face debut

Hugging Face announced Thursday the release of two open source humanoid robots, HopeJR and Reachy Mini, continuing its expansion into the robotics sector. The company anticipates shipping the first units by the end of the year, according to CEO Clem Delangue. HopeJR, a full-size humanoid robot, features 66 actuated degrees of freedom, enabling independent movements such as walking and arm manipulation. Reachy Mini is a desktop unit designed for head movement, speech, and listening functionalities. It is intended for testing AI applications. Hugging Face estimates the cost of HopeJR to be around $3,000 per unit. The Reachy Mini is projected to cost between $250 and $300, contingent on tariff rates. According to Delangue, the open source nature and affordability of these robots aim to democratize robotics, preventing dominance by a limited number of entities with "dangerous black-box systems." The company's April acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a humanoid robotics startup, facilitated this release. Delangue stated that the Pollen team provided Hugging Face with the capabilities necessary to develop these robots. In 2024, Hugging Face launched LeRobot, a collection of open AI models, datasets, and tools designed for building robotics systems. In partnership with The Robot Studio, Hugging Face released an updated version of its 3D-printed and programmable robotic arm, the SO-101, earlier this year. Additionally, the company expanded the training data on its LeRobot platform to include data for self-driving machines in collaboration with AI startup Yaak.

Meet HopeJR: The Open-Source Humanoid From Hugging Face in just $3,000

Hugging Face, known for developing AI in open-source platforms, has announced the launch of two pairs of revolutionary humanoid robots: HopeJR and Reachy Mini. The aim here is to democratize robotics by offering advanced capabilities for much cheaper than industry giants like Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 and Unitree with their G1. HopeJR is a full-range humanoid robot created in partnership with The Robot Studio, priced in the $3000 range, considerably cheaper than competitors like Unitree G1 at $16,000 and Tesla Optimus Gen 2, which goes past $20,000. With 66 degrees of actuated freedom, it can walk and manipulate objects extremely precisely with respect to the environment. , principal research scientist at Hugging Face, said on X, "Meet HopeJr, a full humanoid robot lowering the barrier to entry! Capable of walking, manipulating many objects, open-source, and costs under $3000.