Scientists In China Building World’s First Robot That Could Give Birth To Human Baby

Scientists in China are developing a humanoid robot designed to mimic pregnancy and give birth to a live baby, according to The Telegraph. The project is being led by Dr Zhang Qifeng, founder of Guangzhou-based Kaiwa Technology. He says the development has already reached a “mature stage” and is now focused on implanting an artificial womb into the robot’s abdomen. The goal is for a foetus to grow inside the machine in a fluid-filled chamber that replicates the human womb before eventually being “born”.

Dr Zhang, who completed his PhD at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, explained that the robot is intended to interact with humans in a way that allows conception and pregnancy to occur artificially. The prototype is expected to be launched as early as next year, with an estimated price tag of Rs 11.75 lakh. Chinese media reports suggest the robot has been designed to simulate the entire pregnancy cycle, although details of how fertilisation and implantation would work remain unclear. The concept builds on previous experiments, including the use of “biobags” in which premature lambs were kept alive for weeks in a womb-like environment.

The development has already sparked ethical and legal debate. Dr Zhang confirmed that he is in discussions with Guangdong provincial authorities to create regulations for the technology. Advocates believe it could help tackle China’s rising infertility rates, which jumped from 11.9% in 2007 to 18% in 2020.

But critics are raising serious questions. Some medical experts argue that pregnancy involves intricate biological processes—such as hormone production—that cannot simply be replicated by machines. Others fear wider social consequences. Feminist writer Andrea Dworkin once warned that artificial wombs could lead to “the end of women”, while researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia cautioned that such technology risks treating pregnancy itself as a medical problem. Supporters, on the other hand, view the technology with optimism, suggesting that artificial wombs could help address infertility challenges while also shielding women from the health risks linked to pregnancy and childbirth.