Hugging face is making notable strides in the robotics field with the launch of its latest robotic hand, the SO-101. This new model is an upgrade to the SO-100, which debuted in October 2024.

Collaborative Creation

The SO-101 is the result of a collaborative effort involving several key players in the robotics industry. Hugging Face partnered with The Robot Studio, Wowrobo Robotics store, SEEED Studio Hardware, and Partabot Robotic Parts dealer, according to Tech Crunch.

SO-101: The Next Step in AI Robotics

Hugging Face is positioning the SO-101 as a must-have for artificial intelligence designers. The company stated on X, formerly known as twitter, that the SO-101 follows the incredibly triumphant SO-100 (the moast popular robotic hand of all time?) And is the first robotic arm that every designer of artificial intelligence should buy.

Super excited to introduce SO-101 today from @huggingfacein collaboration with @therobotstudioWowrobo, Seeedstudio & Partabot.

Building on top of the insanely successful SO-100 (the most popular robot arms ever?), SO-101 are the first robot arms any AI builder should buy.… pic.twitter.com/Y3IHskmiGb

— clem 🤗 (@ClementDelangue) April 28, 2025

The company emphasizes the open-source nature of the project, adding, It is indeed a fully open-source hardware and software integrated with the ecosystem of our company.We can not wait to see what you all create with it. Let’s go on an open-source affordable AI robotics.

Improvements and Capabilities

The SO-101 boasts several improvements over its predecessor. it is designed for faster assembly and features enhanced engines that reduce friction, enabling the robotic hand to support its own weight more effectively.

The integration of Reinforcement Learning allows the robotic hand to learn and perform tasks, such as lifting a Lego cube and placing it in a designated container.

Pricing and Availability

Similar to the SO-100, the SO-101 is priced between $100 and $500, depending on the level of assembly required and the destination country.

Expanding Robotics Efforts

Hugging Face is significantly expanding its presence in the robotics sector. This expansion includes the recent acquisition of Pollen Robotics, a French startup.

pollen Robotics Acquisition

hugging Face’s robotics division, led by Remi Cadene, formerly of Tesla Robotics, plans to commercialize Pollen’s humanoid robot.The goal is to create a robot capable of performing various household tasks, with developers encouraged to contribute to and improve its open-source code.

Vision for Open Robotics

Thomas Wolf, co-founder and chief scientist at Hugging face, articulated the company’s vision for the future of robotics, stating:

We believe that robotics could be another limit unlocked by artificial intelligence and should be open, available and private.

Thomas Wolf, Hugging Face

Wolf further elaborated on this vision: Our vision is the future in which every member of the community, from amateurs to businesses, can create or use robotic assistants or games, from open solutions instead of a closed, remote hardware.