Hugging Face Acquires Pollen Robotics to Advance Open Source Robotics

Hugging Face has acquired Pollen Robotics, a French startup known for its humanoid robot Reachy 2. The acquisition aims to advance open-source robotics by allowing developers to download, modify, and improve the robot's code. Hugging Face plans to sell Reachy 2 and hopes to make robotics more accessible and transparent.

Reachy 2, a two-armed humanoid robot, is already being used by several leading AI companies for research in robotic manipulation. Although the specific companies remain confidential, the goal is to eventually have Reachy 2 and its successors used in homes. The open-source approach is expected to foster innovation by enabling developers to 3D print parts and make improvements to the robot's hardware.

Hugging Face's CEO, Clément Delangue, emphasizes the importance of open-source in robotics, stating that it increases trust and transparency. The company already hosts some open-source robotics code, which has seen increased usage over the past year, reflecting a growing interest in the field. This acquisition aligns with Hugging Face's mission to democratize AI and robotics, making advanced technology more accessible to a wider audience.