AI development platform Hugging Face has significantly expanded its robotics footprint, unveiling two open-source humanoid robots, HopeJR and Reachy Mini. This move aims to make advanced robotics technology more accessible, with the full-sized HopeJR estimated at around $3,000 and the desktop Reachy Mini priced between $250-$300. The robots offer out-of-the-box compatibility with the LeRobot framework.
Hugging Face’s core strategy is to foster broader innovation and prevent the robotics field from being dominated by a few large corporations with proprietary systems. Clem Delangue, Hugging Face co-founder and CEO, emphasized this, stating, “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,”
The initiative aims to lower entry barriers for robotics research, potentially accelerating advancements. The first units are expected to ship by year-end, with a waitlist open.
This launch builds on Hugging Face’s ongoing push into robotics, including its LeRobot software platform and the recent acquisition of Pollen Robotics, whose expertise influenced HopeJR’s modular design; Reachy Mini is an evolution of Pollen’s earlier Reachy robot. HopeJR features 66 independent movements, enabling walking and arm manipulation, while Reachy Mini can move its head, communicate, and serve as an AI application testbed.
Come and say hello on our stand at the 2025 @HumanoidsSummit 🇬🇧
Reachy 2, Mini Duck, Reachy Mini and co are present! pic.twitter.com/9UudZ5GB2R
— Pollen Robotics (@pollenrobotics) May 30, 2025
An Open-Source Play in a High-Stakes Field
Hugging Face’s commitment to open-source hardware is a distinct approach in the rapidly evolving robotics sector. Remi Cadene, Head of Robotics at Hugging Face, stated in the company’s announcement, “Our goal with HopeJR and Reachy Mini is to provide robust, affordable platforms that the community can build upon, experiment with, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in embodied AI.”
This philosophy directly contrasts with the more closed, proprietary systems being developed by many major tech players.
The robotics landscape is indeed heating up. Figure AI, for example, has been developing its Helix AI model, designed to enable humanoid robots to understand voice commands and adapt to new objects without cloud reliance. Figure AI’s CEO, Brett Adcock, had previously signaled a major internal breakthrough in end-to-end robot AI.
The ambition in the humanoid robotics space is immense. Elon Musk has stated that Tesla’s Optimus robot, projected to cost $20,000 to $30,000, could be “more significant than [Tesla’s] vehicle business over time,” and is even targeting a Mars mission.
Meta, on the other hand, is pursuing a platform-centric strategy, aiming to provide core AI and sensor technologies for third-party robots. Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, previously explained that the company’s existing AI and Reality Labs technologies are complementary to robotics development.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is also in the fray with its Magma AI, a multimodal model for enterprise automation and robotics, as detailed by Winbuzzer. Winbuzzer noted Google DeepMind is another key competitor, advancing its Gemini Robotics AI models to enable robots to learn with minimal training.
Despite these advancements, significant challenges persist. Fine motor control and navigating unstructured environments remain major hurdles for current humanoid robots.
Fostering a Collaborative Robotics Ecosystem
By offering affordable, open-source humanoid robots, Hugging Face aims to empower a diverse community of researchers, developers, and hobbyists. This could stimulate the exploration of novel use cases and the creation of varied AI software to power these platforms. While established companies invest heavily in proprietary solutions, Hugging Face’s initiative could cultivate a more distributed and collaborative innovation model.
The broader robotics market is set for substantial growth, with ABI Research previously projecting annual humanoid robot shipments could reach 182,000 units by 2030. Hugging Face’s new, accessibly priced robots could play a vital role in realizing this potential by making advanced robotics hardware more widely available.
The ultimate success of HopeJR and Reachy Mini will likely depend on robust community adoption and the continued evolution of open-source AI models capable of imbuing these machines with sophisticated, real-world capabilities.
