Hugging Face’s new robot is the Seinfeld of AI devices

This week, Hugging Face unveiled its latest innovation—the Reachy Mini, a charmingly designed programmable robot. Powered by Raspberry Pi and featuring whimsical antennas and oversized googly eyes, these open-source bots are not particularly functional right out of the box. However, that quirky design is part of their allure. During a recent episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff, and Anthony Ha discussed the impressive launch of the Reachy Mini, which racked up an astonishing $500,000 in sales within just 24 hours. As Hugging Face, known for its open-source software, ventures into the physical product realm, the hosts likened Reachy Mini to a beloved sitcom character—much like the Seinfeld of AI devices. While they may not have a specific purpose, their charm is undeniably captivating. For more insights into the weekly tech news, be sure to catch the full episode. Equity will return next week with fresh updates, and you can subscribe to the podcast on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and Spotify. Don’t forget to follow Equity on X and Threads at @EquityPod for the latest updates.