Hugging Face Expands into Hardware with Acquisition of Pollen Robotics

Hugging Face is making a bold move into the physical world. Known for its widely-used open-source model hub, this AI company has acquired Pollen Robotics, the French startup behind the open-source humanoid robot Reachy 2. While the financial details remain undisclosed, this marks Hugging Face’s first significant step into hardware sales, adding around 30 new members to its team.

Founded in 2016 and based in Bordeaux, Pollen Robotics had previously raised approximately 2.5 million euros (around $2.8 million) in venture capital funding. Its flagship product, the Reachy 2 humanoid robot priced at $70,000, has already found a place in research labs at prestigious institutions like Cornell University and Carnegie Mellon University.

This acquisition builds on Hugging Face's growing interest in robotics, which began last year. The company hired former Tesla Optimus researcher Remi Cadene, introduced the "LeRobot" open-source library, and collaborated with The Robot Studio to launch an affordable $100 robotic arm, steadily establishing its presence in the robotics field.

Thomas Wolf, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Hugging Face, emphasized that the open-source philosophy defining its AI model hub will also be central to its robotics strategy.

The acquisition brings about 20 Pollen Robotics employees, including co-founders Matthieu Lapeyre and Pierre Rouanet, into the Hugging Face fold. According to a company spokesperson, this makes it Hugging Face's largest acquisition to date in terms of headcount.

While Reachy 2’s current price positions it primarily for R&D purposes, Hugging Face has made clear its intent to drastically reduce costs. Wolf even hinted at fully open-sourcing the hardware design in the future, potentially allowing users to 3D-print their own robot components.

The timing of this acquisition aligns with growing interest in the intersection of physical robotics and advanced AI. Just last month, NVIDIA selected Hugging Face as the preferred platform for its GR00T N1 open-source AI model, specifically designed for humanoid robots.

Wolf’s vision for open-source robotics goes beyond cost or convenience—it’s also about safety. He argues that open-source software has proven to be more secure over time because more people can identify and fix vulnerabilities, citing a recent security flaw in Unitree’s robotic dog software as an example of the risks posed by closed systems.

Wolf predicts that the first wave of humanoid robots will engage humans in "fun and interactive ways" rather than focusing on replacing human workers, while simpler and more affordable robotic arms could handle household chores like folding laundry.

This marks Hugging Face's fifth acquisition since its founding nine years ago, during which it has raised $395 million. What began as a simple chat application has evolved into the go-to platform for open-source AI models and datasets.