Equity Hugging Face’s co-founder on bringing open-source AI to life with cute robots
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Jul 16, 2025 
Thomas Wolf, co-founder and chief scientist at Hugging Face, shares insights on their innovative new robot, the Reachy Mini, which sold $1 million in just five days. He highlights the move from cloud-based AI to engaging physical robots that empower developers. The discussion dives into the importance of open-source collaboration in robotics and the balance of creating adorable, trustworthy machines that prioritize user privacy. Wolf also dreams of a future with full-sized humanoid robots and an app ecosystem that invites community-driven creativity.
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Robotics as Next AI Frontier
- Hugging Face sees robotics as the next frontier AI will unlock after software AI models.
- They aim to build an open-source robotics community, similar to software models, to foster accessibility and innovation.
Origin of Reachy Mini Design
- Thomas Wolf found a prototype robot head that inspired the Reachy Mini design due to its cuteness.
- They designed it to be trustable by hiding its camera and having expressive features, combining fun and privacy.
Robots Beyond Practical Use
- Robots aren't just practical tools but can be for fun, education, and entertainment.
- AI advances now let robots understand commands and surroundings better, bridging software and accessible robotics.