Will we End up in “Dune” in Real Life Thanks to an AI Robot Womb?
Kaiwa Technology, from China, has just demolished the boundary between robotics and reproductive science: it made headlines this week by claiming to have introduced humanoid robots equipped with advanced artificial wombs. But what is real here are the ethical considerations that have arisen.
What could go wrong if this experimental line is followed?
Well, those who are fans of Dune know exactly where this could lead in theory: a future full of robots that replace humanity and that must be defeated and declared illegal for civilization to continue to exist.
But before jumping all the way there, let’s start from the beginning.
First, let’s take a closer look at what Kaiwa claimed to have done so far. It stated that it had a prototype “in the final stages” that combines artificial intelligence with bioengineering and that mimics the hormonal and physical processes of pregnancy. It was exaggerated to say that the robots have biosynthetic organs, which according to the company are capable of simulating gestation in a controlled environment, including feeding the embryo or fetus through liquid nutrients.
Kaiwa claimed that its robots with a uterus would eventually be sold for around $14,000, according to SlashGear. If true, this would be much less than the $100,000 to $200,000 it costs in the U.S.
The fake news was published around the time of the opening of the Beijing World Robotics Expo.
Kaiwa did not say whether it was conducting trials with biological material or with human eggs, sperm, or embryos. Nor did it explain how a real baby would be born.
What is the disadvantage of the robotic uterus, if it works?
Well, the first and most obvious would be that the robotic uterus could harm or kill a fetus if it does not function properly. Babies, after all, are not hydroponic and rely on a complex mixture of nutrients and signals from the very complex placenta, which is actually the engine of pregnancy (in addition to the person carrying the fetus).
Creating an AI placenta would be much more than going after a Holy Grail in terms of science, more difficult than building a robotic uterus because it grows, changes, and expands as the fetus develops, and it is much more difficult and delicate to replicate all of that.
What is most concerning is that there have been few reports of ethical vetoes regarding testing this new technology, or regarding its advances. There is a serious about the future of human reproduction and how a robotic component would affect relationships and responsibility towards embryos or children conceived or born in that way, particularly in countries like the U.S., where there are states that recognize embryos as .
Would a robotic uterus be a good idea, or not? Why?
The pros? If a synthetic uterus were a reality and ethically accepted, it could have the potential to open new doors to research on infertility and reproductive assistance. It would offer an alternative to human surrogacy, which costs around $100,000 to $200,000 in the U.S., with a cost of around $14,000 (the price of a robot), and that would be advantageous for those who cannot have children.
The cons? The tapestry of laws that apply to reproductive technology has a pattern that varies by country, region, regulatory bodies (such as the European Union), cultural roles, religious rules, and rights of parenthood, motherhood, and surrogacy.
Whose responsibility would each part of the process of creating a human fetus in a robot be? That would have to be studied and debated thoroughly, and most likely would fail to meet the majority of what is defined as bioethical standards. Then, the oversight of the process and all regulations and sanctions in case of violations, would also create a new legal and ethical segment.
The idea that robots could be artificially intelligent gives rise to another significant problem. Eventually, super sophisticated robots could be granted recognition of their identity as persons, meaning they would be protected under the same laws that govern humans. And if those robots could eventually feel and have emotions in a similar way to humans, we would enter another new field of legal and ethical complexity.
Additionally, an artificial uterus could help human babies survive if they are extremely premature, preventing serious complications such as brain injuries, lung damage, or blindness. In fact, advances in neonatology could drive this technology beyond any attempt to create robotic uteruses.
On the other hand, critics of this possibility are concerned about the potential dehumanization or improper use of the gestation process, pointing out that the artificial uterus would create “human-like entities” without full biological rights or moral considerations.
“Pregnancy is an extremely complex process, where each step is extremely delicate and critical,” Yi Fuxian, from the obstetrics department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Newsweek. He added that synthetic gestation has caused problems in sheep and that “many health risks arise at different ages, not to mention mental health problems.”
Eventually, it will all come down to money
The Impact of Robotic Pregnancy in East Asia
The latest reports have found that the technology sectors in China and South Korea are closely monitoring the saga of robotic pregnancy. With 10% of South Korea’s workforce being made up of robots, the country’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy unveiled the Fourth Basic Plan for Intelligent Robotics in January 2024. This plan entails public and private investments of $2.24 billion by 2030 to fund advancements in automation across various sectors of commerce.
The Potential Market for Synthetic Wombs
Countries with declining birth rates like Japan and South Korea could also become significant markets for synthetic wombs. South Korea has declared its low birth rate as a national emergency and is trying to incentivize people to have children. A new ministry offers housing, immigration procedures, and other demographic aspects in an effort to influence the decision to have children.
The country has already invested over $200 billion in fertility programs over the past 18 years, but the birth rate remains low. Perhaps this trend could change if the government subsidized pregnant robots were introduced.
This article has been translated from Gizmodo US by Lucas Handley. Visit the original version.
