In a significant expansion of its open-source AI mission, Hugging Face has acquired French robotics startup Pollen Robotics, marking its first foray into hardware. This strategic move brings the open-source humanoid robot Reachy 2 under Hugging Face’s umbrella, signaling a new era where AI models are not just digital entities but also embodied in physical forms.
Why This Acquisition Matters
Hugging Face, renowned for its extensive repository of open-source AI models, has long championed transparency and accessibility in AI development. By acquiring Pollen Robotics, the company aims to extend these principles to the realm of robotics, fostering a community-driven approach to developing embodied AI systems.
The integration of Pollen’s team, including co-founders Matthieu Lapeyre and Pierre Rouanet, adds approximately 20 experts to Hugging Face’s roster, making this its largest acquisition by headcount to date.
Introducing Reachy 2: The Open-Source Humanoid Robot
Reachy 2 is an open-source humanoid robot designed for research, education, and experimentation in embodied AI. Equipped with two bio-inspired 7-degree-of-freedom arms, a VR-compatible interface, and running on ROS2 Foxy, Reachy 2 offers a versatile platform for developing and testing AI models in real-world scenarios.
Already utilized by institutions like Cornell University and Carnegie Mellon University, Reachy 2 is now available for purchase at $70,000. Hugging Face plans to make its code and hardware designs open-source, enabling researchers and developers to modify and improve upon the robot’s capabilities.
Democratizing Robotics: A Vision for the Future
The acquisition aligns with Hugging Face’s broader vision of democratizing AI and robotics. By making robotics more transparent, trustworthy, and accessible, the company aims to accelerate innovation and foster a collaborative ecosystem.This approach mirrors the success of open-weight models in AI, which have spurred rapid advancements through community contributions.
Hugging Face’s commitment to open-source principles in robotics is expected to lower barriers to entry, allowing a wider range of researchers, educators, and hobbyists to participate in the development of embodied AI systems.
Strategic Partnerships and Future Developments
This move into robotics follows Hugging Face’s previous initiatives, such as the launch of LeRobot and a 2025 collaboration with NVIDIA on the GR00T N1 model. These efforts underscore the company’s dedication to making AI hardware open, engaging, and safe for widespread use.
By integrating Pollen Robotics’ expertise and resources, Hugging Face is poised to lead the development of open-source robotics platforms that can be customized and enhanced by a global community.
Conclusion: Bridging the Gap Between AI and the Physical World
Hugging Face’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics represents a pivotal step in bridging the gap between AI models and their physical embodiments. By extending its open-source philosophy to robotics, the company is not only expanding its technological horizons but also inviting a broader audience to participate in shaping the future of AI.
Source: HuggingFace