We’re living in a wild moment in tech history. People are already marrying AI chatbots, and now, according to reports, robots could soon be capable of carrying pregnancies.

China is currently developing what’s being called a “pregnancy robot” — equipped with an artificial womb designed to grow a fetus for up to 10 months before “giving birth.” The concept comes from Dr. Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou, and if all goes to plan, the first prototype could be unveiled as early as next year.

The artificial womb would be connected to a nutrient-delivery system through the robot’s abdomen, essentially functioning like a surrogate. For families struggling with infertility, the service is expected to cost 100,000 yuan (around $14,000) — dramatically cheaper than traditional surrogacy in the U.S., which can run anywhere between $100,000 and $200,000.

Dr. Qifeng says the technology behind artificial wombs is already advanced, but the challenge lies in safely integrating it into humanoid robots. Still, many questions remain unanswered — including how fertilization and implantation will work, and how, exactly, a robot would give birth.

Of course, a development like this brings serious ethical and legal debates. Qifeng notes that discussions with local authorities and proposals for legislation are already underway in Guangdong Province.

And if that wasn’t futuristic enough, robots are also starting to blur the line between machine and human in everyday life. Earlier this month, a humanoid bot was spotted casually strolling around Fifth Avenue in New York City — eating hot dogs, trying on sneakers, and generally shocking passersby.

The stunt was actually a marketing move from KraneShares, promoting its new Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF. The sight of a lifelike KOID-branded robot drew mixed reactions.

“It felt like watching the first lightbulb or the first car being unveiled,” said Joseph Dube, head of marketing at KraneShares. “People were amazed. Some were terrified. The reactions were all over the place.”

Whether you find it thrilling or unsettling, one thing is clear: the age of humanoid robots isn’t coming — it’s already here.