In May 2025, Hugging Face, the artificial intelligence development platform best known for hosting machine learning models and datasets, announced two new humanoid robots: HopeJR and Reachy Mini. The release marked a continued push by the company into physical robotics, a domain that has historically been dominated by specialised hardware manufacturers rather than software-centric AI platforms.
HopeJR is a full-size humanoid robot. According to the source material, it features 66 actuated degrees of freedom, which means it has 66 independently controllable movements. This includes the ability to walk and to perform complex arm movements. The robot is positioned as a platform for research and experimentation, offering a wide range of motion that could be useful for testing locomotion algorithms, manipulation tasks, or human-robot interaction scenarios.
Reachy Mini, by contrast, is a compact desktop unit. It is described as being roughly the size of a standard stuffed animal. The robot can move its head, talk, and listen. It comes with two screens that serve as eyes and two antennas. The intended use case, according to the source, is testing AI applications. This makes it a lower-cost entry point for developers who want to experiment with embodied AI without investing in a full-size humanoid.
The release of these robots was made possible, in part, by Hugging Face’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a French startup that created the original Reachy robot. The acquisition was announced in April 2025, according to Clém Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face, as cited in the source material. Delangue stated that the Pollen team provided Hugging Face with “new capabilities” required to build these robots. The acquisition appears to have been a strategic move to bring hardware expertise in-house, rather than relying on third-party manufacturers or partners.
Hugging Face’s entry into robotics is not entirely new. The company launched LeRobot in 2024, a collection of open AI models, datasets, and tools designed for building robotics systems. LeRobot was part of a broader effort to establish an ecosystem of low-cost robotics hardware and software. The release of HopeJR and Reachy Mini builds on this foundation, adding physical hardware to the software and model offerings that Hugging Face already provides.
The company has over 7 million users and hosts millions of AI models and datasets, according to the source material. This scale gives Hugging Face a significant distribution advantage when introducing new products, including hardware. The company has stated its intention to maintain an open-source ethos in its robotics strategy, which aligns with its historical approach to AI models and datasets.
In July 2025, Hugging Face opened orders for the Reachy Mini. The company decided to offer two versions based on feedback from early testers of the original prototype. Delangue told TechCrunch that an early tester’s five-year-old daughter wanted to carry the desktop robot around the house, which led the company to believe that a wireless version would be desirable. This anecdote illustrates how user feedback shaped the product lineup.
The two versions are:
- **Reachy Mini Wireless**: priced at $449, runs on a Raspberry Pi 5 mini computer, and is wireless.
- **Reachy Mini Lite**: priced at $299, needs to be connected to a computing source, and is cheaper as a result.
Both versions come as kits for developers to build themselves. The open-source nature of the robots means that buyers receive components and instructions rather than a pre-assembled, ready-to-run unit. This is consistent with Hugging Face’s stated approach of making advanced robotics more accessible through open designs and lower price points.
The source material does not disclose specific technical specifications beyond the degrees of freedom for HopeJR, the size and features of Reachy Mini, and the computing requirements for the two Reachy Mini versions. It also does not state whether HopeJR is available for purchase, what its price might be, or when it might ship. The source material does not mention battery life, payload capacity, or software compatibility beyond the general mention of Raspberry Pi for the Wireless version. These details are not disclosed in the available information.
Why it matters for European robot service
The European robot service industry has been watching Hugging Face’s moves into hardware with interest. The company’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a French startup, places part of its robotics operations within the European Union. This is significant for several reasons.
First, it signals that a major AI platform company sees value in European robotics talent and manufacturing. Pollen Robotics was already known for the Reachy robot, which had a following among researchers and developers. By acquiring the team and integrating their capabilities, Hugging Face gains a physical presence in Europe’s robotics ecosystem. This could lead to more European-based development, testing, and potentially manufacturing of robot hardware.
Second, the price points of the Reachy Mini versions — $449 for the Wireless and $299 for the Lite — are notably low for humanoid robots. Most humanoid robots on the market, particularly full-size ones, cost tens of thousands of euros or more. While HopeJR’s price is not disclosed, the Reachy Mini pricing suggests that Hugging Face is targeting a segment of the market that has been underserved: developers, researchers, and educators who want to work with humanoid-form hardware without a large capital expenditure.
For European robot service providers, this could mean new opportunities in training, integration, and support. If Hugging Face’s robots gain traction, there will be demand for services around them: setting up the kits, developing AI applications, integrating with existing systems, and maintaining the hardware. The open-source nature of the robots may also encourage third-party service providers to build specialised offerings, since the designs are meant to be accessible and modifiable.
Third, the focus on open-source hardware and software aligns with European initiatives that favour transparency and interoperability. The European robotics market has seen growth in service robots for logistics, healthcare, agriculture, and other sectors. However, many of these robots are proprietary, closed systems. Hugging Face’s approach could introduce a more open alternative, which may appeal to organisations that want to customise their robots or avoid vendor lock-in.
It is worth noting that the source material does not specify whether Hugging Face plans to sell these robots in Europe, what shipping and import costs might be, or whether they will comply with European safety and regulatory standards. These are important considerations for European buyers and service providers. The absence of this information in the source material means that interested parties should seek clarification directly from Hugging Face before making purchasing decisions.
The acquisition of Pollen Robotics also raises questions about the future of the original Reachy robot. The source material does not state whether Hugging Face will continue to support or sell the original Reachy, or whether it will be phased out in favour of the new models. This uncertainty could affect existing Reachy users in Europe who rely on the robot for their work.
Another aspect to consider is the role of LeRobot. Launched in 2024, LeRobot is Hugging Face’s collection of open AI models, datasets, and tools for robotics. The source material does not specify how LeRobot integrates with HopeJR and Reachy Mini, but it is reasonable to assume that the robots are designed to work with the LeRobot ecosystem, given the company’s stated strategy of building a low-cost robotics hardware and software ecosystem. However, this is an inference from the source material, not a stated fact.
For European robot service companies, the emergence of low-cost, open-source humanoid robots could change the competitive landscape. Smaller companies and research institutions that previously could not afford humanoid robots may now be able to acquire them. This could expand the market for robot services, as more organisations experiment with humanoid platforms. At the same time, established robot manufacturers may face pressure to lower prices or offer more open designs.
The source material does not provide any information about the performance, reliability, or durability of HopeJR and Reachy Mini. It also does not mention any certifications, safety testing, or warranty terms. These are critical factors for commercial deployment, and their absence from the source material means that potential buyers should not assume any specific level of quality or support.
What buyers and operators should know
For those considering purchasing a Reachy Mini, there are several key points to keep in mind, based on the source material.
First, the robots are sold as kits. Buyers should expect to assemble the robots themselves. This requires a certain level of technical skill and familiarity with hardware assembly. The source material does not provide details on assembly time, required tools, or difficulty level. It also does not state whether instructions are included, whether they are available online, or whether support is offered for assembly issues.
Second, the two versions have different computing requirements. The Reachy Mini Wireless runs on a Raspberry Pi 5 mini computer and costs $449. The Reachy Mini Lite costs $299 but must be connected to a computing source. This means that buyers of the Lite version will need to provide their own computing hardware, which could add to the total cost. The source material does not specify what kind of computing source is compatible with the Lite version, nor does it state whether the Wireless version includes the Raspberry Pi 5 in the $449 price or whether that is an additional cost.
Third, the robots are open source. This means that the designs and software are meant to be accessible and modifiable. However, open source also implies that buyers take on more responsibility for maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs. There is no mention in the source material of a customer support service, warranty, or return policy. Buyers should be prepared to rely on community forums, documentation, and their own technical skills.
Fourth, the Reachy Mini is a desktop unit, roughly the size of a standard stuffed animal. It is not designed for heavy-duty tasks or industrial use. The source material describes it as a tool for testing AI applications. Buyers with expectations of using it in production environments or for physical tasks may be disappointed. The robot’s capabilities are limited to moving its head, talking, listening, and presumably interacting with AI software — not to manipulating objects or navigating spaces.
Fifth, the price points are low compared to most humanoid robots, but they are not trivial. At $449 for the Wireless version and $299 for the Lite version, the robots are positioned as affordable development platforms. However, buyers should factor in the cost of any additional equipment they may need, such as a computing source for the Lite version, tools for assembly, and potentially spare parts. The source material does not mention the availability or cost of spare parts.
Sixth, the source material does not disclose when the robots will ship, what the delivery times are, or whether there are any geographical restrictions on ordering. It also does not state whether the prices include taxes, shipping, or customs duties. European buyers, in particular, should be aware that prices listed in US dollars may not reflect the final cost after currency conversion, import duties, and VAT.
Seventh, the source material does not provide any information about the software that runs on the robots. It mentions that Reachy Mini can talk and listen, which implies speech synthesis and speech recognition capabilities, but it does not specify which models or tools are used. It also does not state whether the robots are compatible with LeRobot, Hugging Face’s robotics model collection, or whether they can be programmed using standard robotics frameworks like ROS. Buyers should seek clarification on software compatibility before purchasing.
Eighth, the source material does not mention any safety features, such as emergency stop buttons, collision detection, or power limits. For a desktop robot that moves its head and talks, the risks are likely low, but buyers should still be aware that no safety information is provided.
Ninth, the source material does not state whether HopeJR is available for purchase, what its price is, or when it might be released. The announcement in May 2025 focused on the unveiling of both robots, but the order opening in July 2025 was only for the Reachy Mini. HopeJR appears to be a research platform, but its availability and pricing are not disclosed.
Tenth, the source material does not provide any performance metrics, such as battery life, operating time, processing power, or movement speed. It also does not state the weight of the robots or the materials used in their construction. These details are important for assessing whether the robots are suitable for specific use cases.
Given the lack of detailed specifications, buyers should approach the purchase with realistic expectations. The Reachy Mini is a development tool, not a finished product. It is designed for experimentation and learning, not for commercial deployment. The open-source nature of the robots means that buyers will need to invest time in learning how to assemble, program, and maintain them.
The source material also does not mention any ecosystem of third-party accessories, extensions, or community resources. While Hugging Face has a large user base, it is unclear how much of that community is focused on robotics hardware. Buyers may find limited support outside of official channels.
Finally, it is worth noting that the source material does not state whether Hugging Face plans to offer any service contracts, training programs, or professional support for these robots. For European companies that are considering using these robots in a commercial context, the lack of formal support options could be a significant drawback.
In summary, the key facts are: Hugging Face announced HopeJR and Reachy Mini in May 2025; HopeJR is a full-size humanoid with 66 degrees of freedom; Reachy Mini is a desktop robot for testing AI applications; orders for Reachy Mini opened in July 2025; two versions are available at $449 and $299; both come as kits; the acquisition of Pollen Robotics enabled the release; and Hugging Face has over 7 million users. All other details — such as shipping dates, software compatibility, safety certifications, and support options — are not disclosed in the source material and should be verified directly with Hugging Face before making any purchasing decisions.
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Published by Vigla Media OÜ (Estonia).