China has developed a prototype robot capable of carrying a fetus to term and giving birth, according to local reports.
The so-called “pregnancy robot,” priced at about $14,000, was created by Dr. Zhang Qifeng and is expected to debut next year, Chosun Biz said. Developers claim the machine could sustain a pregnancy for roughly 10 months before delivery.
The cost is significantly lower than traditional fertility options such as surrogacy, which can run from $100,000 to $200,000, or in-vitro fertilization.
The announcement has drawn skepticism and criticism, with some women expressing concern about technology replacing natural pregnancy.
It is unclear if the robots will be made available outside China, including in the United States.
