Hugging Face Launches Open-Source Robotics Initiative

According to Remi Cadene's sharing on X platform, Hugging Face, a company based in New York known for maintaining and developing the open-source machine learning and artificial intelligence code library of the same name, as well as launching the open-source ChatGPT competitor Hugging Chat, has now launched a new robotics project under the leadership of former Tesla scientist Remi Cadene.

Cadene explicitly stated that this Hugging Face robotics project will take a unique "open-source" approach, which is in line with Hugging Face's consistent philosophy and a clever response to OpenAI's recent lawsuit against co-founder and current Tesla CEO Elon Musk (Cadene's former boss).

Currently, the project is actively recruiting robotics engineers.

Cadene also revealed that he is looking for suitable engineers in Paris, France, and has released a recruitment link for "embedded robotics engineers." He said, "At Hugging Face, we believe that machine learning should not be limited to computers and servers. Therefore, we are expanding our team to provide new opportunities for robotics engineers focused on machine learning/artificial intelligence."

The embedded robotics engineer will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining open-source and low-cost robotic systems integrated with artificial intelligence technology, especially in the areas of deep learning and embodied artificial intelligence. They will work closely with machine learning engineers, researchers, and product teams to develop innovative solutions and push the boundaries of robotics and artificial intelligence.

The recruitment notice also mentions that applicants need to be able to "design, build, and maintain open-source and low-cost robotic systems integrated with deep learning and embodied artificial intelligence technology" and "manufacture low-cost robots using off-the-shelf electronic components and controllers as well as 3D printed parts."

This move marks a significant transformation and ambitious expansion plan for Hugging Face. In the past, the company mainly focused on the software field, and this foray into the hardware field is undoubtedly a bold attempt.

With the increasing investment and interest in humanoid robots and general-purpose robots, Tesla is developing its own humanoid robot, Optimus. Cadene revealed that he had participated in the development of related projects in Tesla's autonomous driving team and modified some of the technologies originally used for autonomous driving. Meanwhile, a competitor named Figure recently raised an astonishing $675 million from companies such as OpenAI to develop its own robotic competitor.

In recent months, robotics research has shown a clear acceleration trend. Engineers hope to learn new techniques from large language models (LLMs) and machine learning (ML) programs to train robots faster, cheaper, and more accurately. The widespread and growing interest in "embodied" artificial intelligence in the tech industry is driving its transition from screens and devices to machines that can autonomously navigate the world and assist humans in non-software-related, physically demanding, or tedious tasks, including household chores, heavy physical labor, manufacturing, and other fields.