Open-Source AI Robot Companion: A New Era of Assistance

Key Takeaways

Reachy Mini is an open-source robot aimed at integrating AI into homes and classrooms.
It features expressive capabilities and allows users to build and code their own AI companion using Python, with future support for JavaScript and Scratch.
Two versions are available: Reachy Mini Lite ($299) and Reachy Mini Wireless ($449), with deliveries starting from late summer 2025 and autumn 2025 respectively.

Open-Source AI Companion Launch

Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics have introduced Reachy Mini, an innovative open-source robot designed to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday environments such as homes and classrooms. The initiative targets a broad audience, enabling developers and families to engage in hands-on experimentation with AI through a physical robot.

Reachy Mini stands out for its focus on personality and interactivity. Designed to be expressive, the robot can move its head, turn its body, and even feature mobile antennas, creating a playful and characterful companion. The robot is provided as a kit, allowing users to assemble their companion from scratch.

Users can begin programming their Reachy Mini using Python. Support for JavaScript and Scratch is expected in the near future, broadening accessibility for users with varying levels of programming expertise. A virtual simulation platform allows prospective users to experiment with ideas and coding before the physical robot arrives, facilitating a seamless start to their AI journey.

The robot’s deep integration with Hugging Face’s capabilities enables users to access advanced open-source models for speech and vision. Reachy Mini comes equipped with a wide-angle camera and microphones, allowing it to “see” and “hear,” making it an ideal platform for a variety of audio-visual AI projects.

As a fully open-source venture, Reachy Mini invites users to explore both the hardware and software. A strong community of creators on the Hugging Face hub enables sharing of new behaviors and projects, fostering collaboration and innovation within the user base. From launch, more than fifteen starter behaviors will be available, allowing users to engage immediately upon receiving their robot.

To cater to diverse users, Reachy Mini will be available in two versions:

Reachy Mini Lite is priced at $299/£220 (excluding taxes and shipping). This entry-level model connects to Mac or Linux computers, with Windows support arriving soon. It includes two microphones and a camera for initial AI interactions, with deliveries expected in late summer 2025.
Reachy Mini (Wireless) costs $449/£331 (excluding taxes and shipping) and offers a standalone experience. It incorporates a digital brain powered by Raspberry Pi 5, equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, battery power, four microphones for enhanced hearing, and an accelerometer. This version will be gradually released starting in autumn 2025 and continuing into 2026.

Both versions are currently in early development, with the creators inviting feedback from early adopters as part of their ambition to democratize access to open-source AI robotics.

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