Leo Gillick
Removing women from the conception and carrying stage of pregnancy raises numerous ethical and scientific questions. But, they’re going to have to be discussed sooner than expected as China invents a robot that can carry a child from inception to birth.
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The robot, reportedly in development in China, is in humanoid form and is able to carry a fetus for 10 months, eventually giving birth. According to the media outlet Kuai Ke Zhi, it will be released next year. The child-bearing robot will be available for 100,000 yen, or about $14,000.
The pregnancy robot is more than just an incubator, Zhang Qifeng, a PhD at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, says. It is a complete artificial womb. It is supposed to replicate the natural human process of pregnancy, from conception to birth.
The womb is intended to mirror that of a human woman. It is complete with artificial amniotic fluid and a feeding tube. The appearance of the robot will also be humanoid. The goal is to replicate a human pregnancy using the robot as closely as possible. This is a step in a completely new direction from incubators.
Zhang Qifeng, the man developing the pregnancy robot, in his interview with Kuai Ke Zhi, explained how far along the technology has come. “The artificial womb technology is already in a mature stage, and now it needs to be implanted in the robot’s abdomen so that a real person and the robot can interact to achieve pregnancy, allowing the fetus to grow inside.”
Yes, by interact, he does mean impregnate.
Ethical Questions Around Pregnancy Robot
For some, the process of conceiving, carrying, and giving birth to the child is an important and emotional part of parenthood. It is, of course, difficult, but it’s a bonding experience for the parents and their relationship with the child. The process is essential, chemically and psychologically.
But, for others, the ability to have a child using a pregnancy robot is a liberation. For some, the time taken off work for pregnancy is what stands between them and a family. Having a robot carry a child is seen as a step toward female freedom. Now, it’s not down to women to pause their careers for a family.
Some women struggle to get pregnant or keep a child to term. Something like the pregnancy robot gives a much higher chance of conceiving and having a safe and successful birth. It is seen as an opportunity for a guaranteed child.
However, for me, the idea of passing on the process of pregnancy to a robot seems incredibly odd. Something about it just doesn’t feel right.
