China is reportedly developing "pregnancy robots" with artificial wombs that could carry and deliver human babies. The technology, designed to potentially help infertile couples, is being pioneered by engineers at Kaiwa Technology.
Dr. Zhang Qifeng, the company's founder, stated that a prototype could be available as soon as next year for a cost of around $14,000 which is significantly cheaper than human surrogacy. While the invention offers hope for some, key questions remain about how fertilization and birth would occur, as well as how the robot's womb would replicate a natural environment.
The development has also ignited major ethical debates. Critics worry that it could commodify childbirth and create a new class divide in fertility options. Others have pointed to the issue of countries with declining birthrates, such as China, Japan, and South Korea, potentially using such technology for repopulation. The legal questions of guardianship and liability in cases of negligence also remain unanswered.
While other countries like the US and Japan are testing artificial wombs for premature babies, China's reported efforts for full pregnancies could trigger a new reproductive technology race worldwide.
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