China has invested heavily in robotics. The country is a leader in industrial robots per capita and has just hosted the first "World Humanoid Robot Games" in Beijing.

But even before this month, China has been turning to high-profile events to showcase its tech, including a robot half-marathon and dancing humanoid robots during its Lunar New Year’s Eve TV gala, watched by hundreds of millions of people, according to The New York Times.

Chinese scientists have reportedly unveiled plans for the world’s first humanoid robot capable of carrying a pregnancy to term. Led by Dr. Zhang Qifeng of Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou, the project is reported to be in an advanced stage.