Apocalyptic future? Robots may replace human mothers
Artificial intelligence may soon be taking more than just our jobs: scientists are working on a pregnant robot that could replace human mothers.
A groundbreaking technological advance is underway in East Asia, one that may go further than even the wildest sci-fi films have imagined, according to a LADbible report. Chinese researchers claim that by next year, the world could see the creation of the first humanoid robot capable of giving birth.
A baby could develop inside the robot
It’s been just about 50 years since the birth of the first baby conceived through artificial insemination, and science has progressed at a staggering pace ever since. But the idea of a machine that can fully replicate every stage of human pregnancy—from conception to childbirth—has been beyond imagination until now.
Though development is still ongoing, the goal is for a baby to grow inside the robot’s artificial womb. Nutrients and oxygen would be delivered through a tube, supporting proper fetal development. Medical professionals suggest the entire process could be completed over nine months—the typical duration of human pregnancy—and the robot would be able to deliver the baby.
Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology and head of the project, stated the endeavor is in its final phase. If everything proceeds as planned, the company could release a prototype of the robot as early as 2026, priced around 100,000 yuan (roughly 4.5 million forints).
Can a machine really do this?
The overarching goal is for the robot to replicate every phase of pregnancy in detail, although specific information about how fertilization would occur remains scarce. The official announcement notes the baby would develop inside an artificial womb within the robot, but questions persist about how the fetus would be implanted. Dr. Zhang also mentioned the inclusion of artificial amniotic fluid inside the machine to simulate the uterine environment.
The concept isn’t entirely without precedent—scientists have previously managed to sustain prematurely born lambs inside “biobags.” But a robot giving birth to a human baby represents an entirely new frontier, raising immediate ethical and legal questions. The company has already begun working with regional authorities to draft legislation that would provide a legal framework for the astonishing technology.
What do critics say?
Critics have wasted no time voicing their concerns. Many are skeptical that a robot could truly replicate human pregnancy in its entirety. One of the biggest issues is the belief that the complex hormonal and biological processes a woman undergoes during pregnancy cannot be artificially reproduced.
Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia warned in a study that such technology could “pathologise” pregnancy—suggesting that an artificial environment might fail to support fetal development properly and could pose significant risks.
Read also:
- Is AI panic valid? Hungary’s AI commissioner answers the question
- Hungarian motorways enter the digital age with AI-powered monitoring system
To read or share this article in Hungarian, click here: Helló Magyar