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In a groundbreaking advancement in reproductive technology, Chinese scientists are developing a humanoid robot capable of carrying and giving birth to human babies.
Led by Dr. Zhang Qifeng of Guangzhou-based Kaiwa Technology, the project aims to integrate an artificial womb into a robot's abdomen, allowing it to simulate a full pregnancy. The prototype is slated for unveiling in 2026, with an estimated cost of around 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,000 or ₹12 lakh), making it a potentially affordable alternative to traditional surrogacy.
This innovation could revolutionize fertility treatments, offering hope to infertile couples and individuals who cannot or prefer not to carry a pregnancy.
However, experts caution that while the technology builds on prior artificial womb research, such as the 2017 "biobag" experiment sustaining premature lambs, significant hurdles remain in replicating human maternal-fetal interactions, including hormonal exchanges critical for fetal development. The robot's artificial womb would receive nutrients via a tube, but details on fertilization, implantation, and delivery methods remain unclear.
Dr. Zhang, a PhD graduate from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, stated that the artificial womb technology is already at a "mature stage." "Now it needs to be implanted in the robot’s abdomen so that a real person and the robot can interact to achieve pregnancy, allowing the fetus to grow inside," he explained in an interview with Chosun Biz.
The gestation period is expected to last about 10 months, mimicking natural human pregnancy.
For medical professionals and patients, this could address rising infertility rates in China, which increased from 11.9% in 2007 to 18% in 2020, and globally affect around 15% of couples, often due to factors like age, lifestyle, or medical conditions such as endometriosis or low sperm count.
If successful, it may reduce the physical and health risks associated with pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and postpartum complications.
The development has ignited global debates on ethics, with concerns over fetal-maternal bonding, the psychological well-being of robot-born children, and the sourcing of reproductive cells.
Radical feminist Andrea Dworkin once warned that artificial wombs could signal "the end of women," while researchers from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have noted that such tech might pathologize natural pregnancy.
Dr. Zhang's team is collaborating with Guangdong Province authorities to formulate policies and legislation. "We have held discussion forums with authorities in Guangdong Province and submitted related proposals while discussing policy and legislation," he said, addressing public unease.
From a healthcare perspective, bioethicists emphasize the need for long-term studies on outcomes like neurodevelopment and immune system formation in artificially gestated infants, as current animal models may not fully translate to humans. Additionally, ensuring equitable access could prevent exacerbating socioeconomic disparities in reproductive care.
This project emerges amid rapid advancements in humanoid robotics, such as the KOID-branded bot recently spotted in Manhattan promoting an ETF, highlighting society's mixed reactions to AI integration in daily life. In reproductive science, it builds on experiments like the 2017 biobag, which sustained lambs for weeks in synthetic amniotic fluid.
While supporters view it as a "game-changer" for infertility, critics argue it raises profound questions about parenthood, family structures, and human ethics. As Dr. Zhang noted, the robot could cost significantly less than U.S. surrogacy fees, which range from $100,000 to $200,000, potentially democratizing access to parenthood.
(Rh/Eth/MKB/TL)
