Chinese company Kaihua Technology announced the development of the world's first robot equipped with an artificial womb, capable of carrying out pregnancy and childbirth on behalf of women. This innovation has sparked widespread controversy in scientific and ethical circles.
The concept was unveiled at the World Robotics Congress 2025 in Beijing, where company founder Zhang Zhifeng explained that the robot simulates the entire process from fertilization to birth, with the ability to carry the fetus for up to 10 months in an artificial amniotic fluid environment and feed it via a tube that mimics the umbilical cord.
The prototype is expected to be available in 2026, priced at less than 100,000 yuan (about $13,900), and is targeted at those who want to avoid the physical burdens of pregnancy or those facing infertility issues.
Ethical and Scientific Controversy
The announcement sparked a division between those who viewed it as a glimmer of hope for reproductive medicine and those who warned of its ethical and legal repercussions.
Zhang confirmed that the project is under discussion with authorities in Guangdong Province to determine the appropriate legislative and regulatory framework.
Artificial wombs are not entirely new. In 2017, researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia successfully nurtured a lamb fetus in a "biobag" until full-term development. However, experts believe that transitioning from late-stage embryo support to full-term pregnancy remains a significant scientific challenge.
Parallel Innovations
The conference also featured the first AI-powered mating robot to accelerate crop production, a move that reflects China's drive to integrate AI with biotechnology in multiple fields.
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