Software development platform Hugging Face is taking orders on Reachy Mini, a table-top robot that lets people use the latest AI models to develop, test, deploy, and share real-world AI applications from their desk. The tiny test subject is 11 inches at work and nine inches in sleep mode. Due to begin shipping later this summer, Reachy Mini comes in two configurations: a $299 Lite version that must be tethered to a computer running Mac or Linux OS (Windows coming soon) and a wireless $449 model that has a Raspberry Pi 5 single-board computer built-in. Continue reading Hugging Face Opens Preorders on New ‘Reachy Mini’ Robots

Hugging Face has collected $235 million in an investment round that includes contributions from Amazon, IBM, Google, Nvidia, Salesforce, AMD, Intel and Qualcomm. The New York-based startup creates and distributes open-source tools for artificial intelligence development, carving an AI-centric niche similar to the more general programming approach taken by the Microsoft-owned GitHub. The incoming cash infusion — earmarked for talent recruitment — gives Hugging Face a lofty $4.5 billion valuation that experts say indicates momentum for open source in what has to date been a highly competitive AI sector. Continue reading Big Tech Firms Propel Hugging Face to $4.5 Billion Valuation

Clement Delangue, co-founder and CEO of New York-based Hugging Face, turned a casual invitation to meet with open-source AI stakeholders during a trip to San Francisco into what is being called the “Woodstock of AI.” In a matter of days, the event ballooned to more than 5,000 people hosted at the Exploratorium on March 31. “We just crossed 1,500 registrations for the Open-Source AI Meetup!” Delangue messaged the RSVP list days before the event. “What started with a tweet might lead to the biggest AI meetup in history.” The 8-year-old company is also making headlines for its new HuggingGPT system. Continue reading Hugging Face Rallies Open-Source AI Community at Meetup