China’s Revolutionary Development: Humanoid Robot Capable of Giving Birth
Chinese scientists are developing a humanoid robot with an artificial womb, capable of carrying a human fetus to term. Set to debut in 2026!
At the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing, Dr. Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou and PhD from Nanyang Technological University, introduced plans for the world’s first humanoid “gestation robot.” This groundbreaking machine is designed to carry a pregnancy from conception to birth inside an artificial womb, with the first prototype expected by 2026.
The robot mimics a natural pregnancy: the fetus develops within an artificial womb located in the robot’s abdomen, nourished by tubes and surrounded by synthetic amniotic fluid. Parents may even be able to interact with the fetus during gestation. While technical details about fertilisation and implantation remain undisclosed, the project builds on earlier artificial womb experiments, such as the 2017 “biobag” that sustained premature lambs.
Research has been ongoing for more than two years. Kaiwa Technology, founded in 2015, previously focused on service robots but is now in talks with authorities about the legal and policy frameworks surrounding this innovation. The project aims to support infertile couples, individuals avoiding biological pregnancy, and address China’s declining birth rate. The expected cost is 100,000 yuan (approx. ?12.18 lakh) significantly lower than commercial surrogacy.
The development, however, has sparked global ethical debate. Critics raise concerns about the absence of maternal bonding, the psychological wellbeing of children, and disruption of traditional family roles. Feminist voices warn it may undermine motherhood, while others question whether life without a human mother can truly be natural. Supporters, on the other hand, see it as a revolutionary solution offering hope to families struggling with infertility.
On Chinese social media, the hashtag “#World’s First Pregnancy Robot to Launch Within a Year” has gone viral, with opinions split between excitement over medical freedom and outrage at its ethical implications.
Could relying on machines to create life ultimately challenge our understanding of humanity itself?
