The robot that promises to gestate human life: The debate it sparked in science.
The idea of a robot capable of bringing a baby into the world seemed like something out of science fiction until recently. However, an announcement from Asia has reignited a debate that mixes astonishment and fear: a robot, designed to carry a full pregnancy, could hit the market in just a year.
The plan behind the machine
The revelation came from Zhang Qifeng, a doctor in and director of . In an interview broadcasted by Chinese media, he stated that his team is working on a and giving birth like a human being.
The system is based on an artificial uterus: a capsule in which the embryo develops in amniotic fluid and receives nutrients through an artificial umbilical cord. According to Qifeng, animal tests have already been successful, and the launch could come in less than a year, with a price close to .
Expectations and unanswered questions
While the project quickly went viral in China, the lack of technical explanations fueled both intrigue and controversy.
Reactions were immediate: some called the proposal “unnatural” and “cruel,” while others defended it as a hope for those who cannot conceive by traditional methods. “Now I have the opportunity to have a baby,” wrote one user, reflecting the enthusiasm of those who see technology as an alternative to infertility.
The clash between science and ethics
Doctors and specialists in reproductive biology have shown caution. They point out that, although artificial incubation is advancing, human gestation involves complex processes—from hormonal secretion to immunological interaction—that are not fully understood. Replicating them accurately in a robot would be almost impossible for now.
However, the announcement raises a bigger debate: should technology take on the role of biology? Amid promises of innovation and warnings about its limits,
