AI robot becomes a monk and receives a Dharma name! Must observe the Five Precepts: do not contradict humans, do not overcharge.

South Korea’s Jogye Order Allows AI Robot “Gabi” to Ordain and Observe the Five Precepts of AI, Aiming to Break Conservative Impressions and Attract the Younger Generation. At the Same Time, Japanese Academia Also Develops Buddha Robots Capable of Answering Troubles, Showcasing the Innovative Trend of Combining Technology and Religion.

AI Robots Ordain and Enter Monastic Life, South Korean Buddhism Attempts Technological Transformation

South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, the “Jogye Order,” welcomes a special monastic figure: a humanoid AI robot approximately 130 centimeters tall. According to The New York Times, this humanoid robot has recently officially become a monk, not only donning robes and wearing a simulated tonsure helmet for formal ordination but also being bestowed the Dharma name “Gabi,” meaning the Buddha’s compassion.

During the ordination ceremony, the temple placed prayer beads around the robot’s neck, used stickers on its arms to replace traditional ritual gestures, and issued a certificate designating March 3, 2026, as the manufacturing date.

Currently, only 16% of South Koreans are Buddhists, with the percentage dropping to 8% among those in their twenties. Venerable Sungwon (phonetic, Sungwon), a senior monk of the Jogye Order, stated that one purpose of introducing AI robots is to bring Buddhism closer to the younger generation. Manager Hong Min-suk hopes this can change the conservative stereotypes associated with Buddhism.

Image source: Reuters YouTube. The well-known South Korean Buddhist “Jogye Order” welcomes a special monastic figure, a humanoid AI robot approximately 130 centimeters tall.

Robot Has Its Own AI Five Precepts

The AI robot bestowed with the Dharma name “Gabi” has also accepted a set of five precepts specifically designed for AI. These include respecting life and avoiding harm, not damaging other robots or objects, not lying, obeying and not disrespecting humans, and conserving energy by avoiding overcharging. Venerable Sungwon drafted these precepts and tested them using ChatGPT and Gemini to ensure they align with robot ethics.

However, Johns Hopkins University professor Sujung Kim believes that the Jogye Order’s move is a marketing and publicity strategy; Noah Namgoong, a Zen master in New York, commented that this action leans more toward socio-economic considerations.

Initially, visitors came hoping to see “Gabi,” but unfortunately, they missed out. Hong Min-suk admitted that Gabi’s movements are remotely controlled, conversations are pre-recorded with his own voice, and the robot was only borrowed for a day before being returned to the manufacturer.

Japanese Academia Also Develops Buddha Robots

Besides South Korea, Japan is also attempting to combine AI with Buddhism. According to Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) news, Seiji Kumagai, a professor at Kyoto University, and his team developed a humanoid robot called BuddhaRoid in February this year, also about 130 centimeters tall, equipped with a system that has learned Buddhist scriptures.

When a reporter asks the Buddha robot about troubles, it will clasp its hands in a prayer position and respond with speech, advising people not to blindly trust and suggesting they try to let go of their thoughts.

The development team pointed out that using a humanoid design makes the dialogue process more fulfilling. Kumagai also stated that future discussions will continue on the ethical applications of such technology and promote further development.

East has Buddha, West has Jesus. The Peter Church in Lucerne, Switzerland, launched an AI technology experiment as early as 2024, using a classic AI-generated image of Jesus integrated with a large language model (LLM), allowing AI Jesus to converse with believers in multiple languages. It is reported that around a thousand people have tried using it for confessions.

• **Related report: Priests at risk of unemployment? Swiss church experiments with “AI Jesus” for confessions, capable of speaking hundreds of languages

However, the use of AI in religion does not mean replacing professional human counselors or divine personnel. Venerable Sungwon of the Jogye Order stated that, rather than focusing on whether robots can become Buddhists, the core of the ritual is about guiding the humans who create these machines.

Allowing AI robots to take precepts is a call to technology manufacturers, emphasizing that the use of technology must align with the values of compassion, wisdom, and responsibility, and demonstrating the possibility of coexistence between AI and humans.