Robot Monk: This robot has been developed under the initiative of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist organization.

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Robot Monk: The use of artificial intelligence and robots is no longer limited to factories, offices, or homes. Technology has now entered the world of spirituality and religion. A Buddhist temple in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, has unveiled its first humanoid robot monk, named Gabi.

This robot wasn't created solely for display, but is being developed to be integrated into Buddhist traditions and spiritual activities. Gabi was recently publicly unveiled for the first time at a religious event held ahead of Buddha Jayanti celebrations.

Gabi looks like an old monk.

The nearly four-foot-tall humanoid robot was dressed in the brown and gray robes of traditional Buddhist monks. During the ceremony, Gabi chanted mantras with other monks, bowed in prayer, and answered people's questions.

This robot was developed as part of an initiative by the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist organization. Its stated purpose is to connect young people with Buddhism and spirituality through modern technology.

Robot takes spiritual vow.

Gabi is based on China's Unitree G1 humanoid platform. Its body is designed to walk like a human, fold its arms, and participate in religious activities.

During the ceremony, a monk asked Gabi if he would follow the Buddha and his teachings, to which the robot replied, "Yes, I will dedicate myself." Gabi then circled the pagoda during worship and prayed with folded hands.

Interestingly, the name Gabi also has spiritual meaning. It is said to be a combination of Gautama Buddha's birth name, Siddhartha, and the Korean word jabi, meaning mercy and compassion.

Special rules made for robots

The temple administration has also developed specific Buddhist rules for Gabi. These include respecting life, not harming objects, not saying anything offensive, and not overcharging the battery. Interestingly, AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini were also used in developing these rules.

Why is the use of AI in religion increasing?

Buddhist institutions in South Korea are now turning to technology to attract a new generation. Religious organizations believe that AI and robots can make it easier to engage young people in spiritual activities. This technology can also help address problems like the shortage of monks. It is reported that Gabi may appear alongside other Buddhist-themed robots in upcoming Buddha Jayanti events and lantern parades.

Such an experiment has also started in Japan.

South Korea isn't the only country where AI is being integrated with spirituality. Recently, researchers at Kyoto University in Japan developed an AI robot called Buddharoid. This robot can converse with people, understand Buddhist scriptures, and even answer spiritual questions. These experiments clearly indicate that the future could see the intersection of technology and spirituality deepen.