Google tests Gemini 3.8 Flash as Hugging Face sees robot duck surge

Google employees are reportedly testing a preview version of its next AI model, Gemini 3.8 Flash, on the company’s internal coding platform, Jetski. This rapid development cycle comes as Google seeks to regain its competitive edge against rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.

In a separate development in consumer robotics, Hugging Face announced that orders for the Microduck—a small robot duck developed by its subsidiary Pollen Robotics—exceeded $2.6 million within the first 24 hours of availability. The $399 device, which features LiDAR scanners and 15 motors, is currently on backorder with shipping estimates extending four to six months due to high demand.