China’s Kaiwa Technology has unveiled to the public the prototype of the world’s first humanoid robot designed to carry a fetus for ten months and give birth to a child. This was reported by Interesting Engineering.
The basis of the project is an artificial womb module filled with amniotic fluid. Inside it, the embryo develops, while the process imitates natural pregnancy: nutrients are delivered through a special tube to ensure fetal growth.
According to the company’s founder and CEO, Dr. Zhang, the device has already passed successful tests on animals. He noted that the robot itself is expected to enter the market in 2026, with an estimated price of about 100,000 yuan (around 14,000 USD). The technology is aimed at young people who want children but avoid biological pregnancy, families unable to conceive, as well as single individuals.
The news sparked heated debate on Chinese social media. The query “world’s first pregnant robot” topped Weibo’s search rankings. Opinions were divided: critics called the technology “cruel” and “against human morality,” while supporters saw it as a way to free women from the physical hardships of pregnancy.
Taking into account that by 2020 the infertility rate in China had reached 18%, and with surrogacy being legally banned in the country, the demand for such a technology could be extremely high, writes Interesting Engineering. Many users expressed hope that the robot would help fulfill their dream of having a child.
In conclusion, the Kaiwa Technology prototype may affect not only the field of technological innovation but also social perceptions of family and lineage.
Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
