'Women, no longer needed': China develops 'Pregnancy robot' with artificial womb

Chinese scientists are developing a groundbreaking humanoid robot capable of mimicking human pregnancy and giving birth using a built-in artificial womb, where women will no longer be needed, according to a report by The Telegraph.

The project is being spearheaded by Dr. Zhang Qifeng, the founder of Kaiwa Technology, a Guangzhou-based company. Dr. Zhang, who holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said the development is already at an advanced stage.

The next step involves implanting the artificial womb into the robot's abdomen to enable full gestation and interaction with humans.

“Our goal is to allow the robot and a human to interact to achieve pregnancy, supporting fetal growth inside the artificial womb,” Dr Zhang told The Telegraph.

Full gestation inside a robot The humanoid robot is designed to carry a fetus from conception to delivery, with the developing baby suspended in artificial amniotic fluid that mimics the natural environment of the womb.

While specifics around fertilisation and embryo implantation remain unclear, the machine is said to simulate the complete pregnancy process.

The prototype is expected to be commercially available by next year, with a reported price tag of around £10,000 (approximately Rs 11.75 lakh). Dr Zhang stated that the project builds upon previous research, such as the 2017 US experiments that kept premature lambs alive for weeks in artificial “biobags".

Ethical and legal implications The ambitious project has already sparked ethical and legal debate. Dr. Zhang confirmed ongoing discussions with Guangdong provincial authorities to establish a regulatory framework for the emerging technology.

While some experts see artificial wombs as a potential solution to China’s growing infertility crisis—rates rose from 11.9 per cent in 2007 to 18 per cent in 2020—others are more skeptical.

Critics point out that human pregnancy is governed by complex biological interactions, including hormone regulation, which may not be easily replicated. Concerns have also been raised about the social consequences of detaching reproduction from the human body.

Feminist thinkers like Andrea Dworkin have long warned that artificial wombs could threaten women’s roles in society, describing such developments as a potential step toward “the end of women.” Similarly, researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia warned in 2022 that such technologies could “pathologise” pregnancy, turning it into a medical condition rather than a natural human experience.

Despite the controversy, proponents argue that artificial wombs could alleviate the physical toll of pregnancy and childbirth, giving more people access to parenthood without biological limitations.