There’s a robot for that.
What a time to be alive — people are marrying AI companions, and now robots may soon be able to carry babies.
Reports suggest that China is developing a robot equipped with an artificial womb, receiving nutrients through a hose, capable of carrying a fetus for about 10 months before giving birth, according to Chosun Biz.
If successful, this breakthrough could transform the lives of infertile couples
The “pregnancy robot” was conceived by Dr. Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology, based in Guangzhou, China. If all goes according to plan, the prototype is expected to debut next year.
For those struggling to conceive, hiring a humanoid to carry a baby would cost 100,000 yuan ($13,927) — significantly less than a human surrogate in the U.S., which can range from $100,000 to $200,000.
“The artificial womb technology is already well-developed. Now, it needs to be implanted in the robot’s abdomen so a real person and the robot can interact to achieve pregnancy, allowing the fetus to develop inside,” Qifeng told Chosun Biz.
Many questions remain unanswered, including how the egg and sperm will be fertilized and inserted into the womb, and how the robot will deliver the baby.
“The artificial womb is reported to receive nutrients through a hose.”
Unsurprisingly, this kind of technology raises numerous ethical and legal questions.
“We have held discussion forums with authorities in Guangdong Province and submitted related proposals while discussing policy and legislation,” the doctor said, addressing public concerns.
On a different note, humanoid robots are becoming increasingly visible in everyday life. Earlier this month, one was spotted strolling down Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, doing everything from grabbing a hot dog to trying on sneakers.
The bizarre sight of the KOID-branded robot mimicking a human New Yorker was actually a marketing stunt for KraneShares’s Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which launched earlier this summer.
“I feel like I was witnessing firsthand… the first lightbulb or the first car,” said Joseph Dube, head of marketing at KraneShares. “People were amazed. Some people were terrified. It was a major mixed bag of reactions.”
