Hugging Face unveils tiny talking robot that kids and adults can code

Hugging Face has launched Reachy Mini, a compact, open-source desktop robot designed to make personal robotics accessible to kids, educators, and developers. Standing 11 inches tall and weighing 3.3 pounds, Reachy Mini features expressive animated eyes, motorized head movements with six degrees of freedom, a 360-degree rotating body, a wide-angle camera, speaker, and multiple microphones for natural interactions. The robot is sold as a DIY kit, encouraging users to assemble it themselves, which serves as an educational introduction to robotics without requiring an engineering background. Reachy Mini is programmable primarily in Python, with JavaScript and Scratch support coming soon, catering to a broad skill range. It connects to Hugging Face’s AI Hub, granting access to over 1.7 million AI models and 400,000 datasets. The robot comes in two versions: a Wireless model powered by Raspberry Pi 5 with a built-in battery for mobility, priced at $449, and a Lite tethered