TLDR;
- Hugging Face introduces HopeJR, an affordable full-size humanoid priced at $3,000.
- HopeJR has 66 degrees of freedom and can mimic human arm movements via smart gloves.
- The robot’s open-source design allows developers and hobbyists to modify and customize it.
- Shipping of HopeJR is expected by late 2025, with a waiting list now open.
Hugging Face, the AI company known for its open-source ecosystem, has just made a bold leap into consumer robotics with the unveiling of HopeJR, a full-size humanoid robot priced at only $3,000.
Announced this week, HopeJR is a walking, talking marvel with 66 degrees of controlled freedom, capable of interacting with the physical world and mimicking human motions with surprising accuracy.
This announcement comes alongside a smaller desktop companion called Reachy Mini, but it’s HopeJR that’s commanding the spotlight, not just because of its humanoid design, but because it breaks new ground in affordability and accessibility.
Human-Like Movement
Notably, from walking to pointing and gesturing, the robot is designed to be a fully interactive machine that blends into human environments. Its arms can be controlled remotely via sensor-equipped gloves, mirroring the operator’s movements in real time. Demonstrations released by Hugging Face show HopeJR shaking hands, pointing to texts, and performing small physical tasks , a striking demonstration of low-cost robotic precision.
Meet HopeJr, a full humanoid robot lowering the barrier to entry!
Capable of walking, manipulating many objects, open-source and costs under $3000 🤯
Designed by @therobotstudio and @huggingface 👇 pic.twitter.com/wCwo8YPOGV
— Remi Cadene (@RemiCadene) May 29, 2025
This is not the first time Hugging Face has dabbled in robotics. The company previously launched the SO-100 and SO-101 robotic arms, which users can 3D print for as little as $100. But HopeJR represents an evolution in both complexity and ambition.
Open-Source Hardware for the AI Era
Moreover, staying true to its roots, Hugging Face is releasing all the blueprints and code for HopeJR under an open-source license. This allows developers, researchers, and even enthusiasts to build, modify, or completely redesign the robot based on their own needs.
The project was developed in collaboration with The Robot Studio, and aligns with Hugging Face’s broader push into robotics through its LeRobot platform. LeRobot, launched in 2024, serves as a repository for AI models and training data specifically geared toward autonomous machines.
“The idea is to empower everyone, not just researchers at top universities or engineers at billion-dollar companies,” said CEO Clément Delangue in a statement. “We want to bring advanced robotics into the hands of creators, educators, and hobbyists alike.”
Shipping in 2025
Though Hugging Face has not revealed a firm shipping date, the first HopeJR units are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. A waiting list is now live, and demand is expected to be high. For many robotics enthusiasts and AI researchers, the chance to own a programmable humanoid at this price point is unprecedented.
