China is set to make history with the unveiling of the world’s first humanoid robot capable of hosting a fully functioning artificial womb, a breakthrough that could transform reproductive science.
According to Indian Times reports on Monday, the project is being spearheaded by Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou and is slated for a 2026 debut.
Project lead Zhang Qifeng revealed at the World Robot Conference in Beijing that the scientific foundation for the artificial womb has already been laid, with the next phase focused on integrating it into a humanoid robot for what he described as “interactive pregnancy.”
Artificial wombs are not entirely new. They mimic the natural uterine environment using synthetic amniotic fluid and an umbilical-like tube to deliver oxygen and nutrients. In 2017, US scientists successfully kept premature lambs alive for weeks in such “biobags,” proving the concept’s viability.
The solution is projected to cost around 100,000 yuan (£11,000), significantly cheaper than conventional surrogacy. This makes it a potentially disruptive alternative amid rising infertility rates, particularly in China.