China is venturing into uncharted territory with the development of the world’s first humanoid pregnancy robot equipped with an artificial womb. The pioneering project, led by Dr. Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology, aims to replicate the entire journey of human gestation, from fertilisation through to delivery.

At the heart of the robot is an artificial womb embedded in its abdomen, filled with synthetic amniotic fluid. Nutrients are supplied to the fetus via a tube, closely mirroring a real placenta’s natural function. Unlike earlier milestones, such as the 2017 breakthrough in Philadelphia where a premature lamb was successfully nurtured in an artificial sac, Dr. Zhang’s innovation introduces human interaction during the gestation process.

A prototype is expected within the year, while policymakers are already preparing for the ethical and legal questions it raises. If successful, the project could transform medicine and redefine the possibilities of childbirth.