Could “Pregnancy Robots” Redefine Fertility Care?

China is exploring a radical new frontier in reproductive technology: humanoid robots equipped with artificial wombs that could one day carry and deliver human babies.

The concept, developed by Dr. Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou, involves a robot with an implanted artificial womb, nourished through a hose connected to its abdomen. According to reports in Chosun Biz, the prototype may be unveiled as early as next year.

If successful, the innovation could be transformative for couples experiencing infertility. Renting such a robot is projected to cost around 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,000)—a fraction of the $100,000–$200,000 often required for human surrogacy in the United States.

How Would It Work?

Artificial womb technology itself is not new—researchers around the world have been testing external womb systems for premature infants for years. What’s novel here is the integration of that technology into a humanoid robot, designed to mimic pregnancy and childbirth over the course of 10 months.

“The artificial womb technology is already in a mature stage,” Dr. Qifeng told Chosun Biz. “Now it needs to be implanted in the robot’s abdomen so that a real person and the robot can interact to achieve pregnancy, allowing the fetus to grow inside.”

Still, many fundamental questions remain. How will fertilisation and embryo transfer be carried out? How will birth be managed safely? And crucially, what health protections will be in place for the developing fetus?

Promise and Controversy

The idea raises profound ethical, legal, and medical debates. Advocates say it could revolutionise fertility care, providing new hope to those unable to conceive naturally or access surrogacy. Critics warn of uncharted risks, not only to fetal health, but also to social, ethical, and legal frameworks that have yet to adapt to such technology.

Dr. Qifeng acknowledged these concerns, noting that his team has been in dialogue with policymakers in Guangdong Province about regulation and legislation.

A Glimpse of the Future?

This development comes amid a wave of humanoid robotics experiments globally, where the line between human and machine is increasingly blurred. Earlier this month, a humanoid robot walking down New York’s Fifth Avenue sparked both wonder and unease among passersby.

As with that spectacle, reactions to the concept of a “pregnancy robot” are likely to be mixed—some will see a groundbreaking medical tool, others a deeply unsettling prospect.

For now, what’s clear is that artificial womb technology is moving from theory to reality, and its potential implications—for fertility, medicine, and society—are immense.