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 become a monk and observe the AI Five Precepts, hoping to break the conservative image and attract the younger generation. At the same time, Japanese academia is also developing Buddha robots capable of answering worries, demonstrating an innovative trend of combining technology and religion.

AI robots ordained as monks, South Korean Buddhism attempts technological transformation

South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, the “Jogye Order,” has welcomed a special monastic member: a humanoid AI robot approximately 130 centimeters tall. According to The New York Times, this humanoid robot has recently been officially ordained, not only wearing robes and a simulated tonsure helmet to formally take refuge, 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, and among those in their 20s, the percentage drops to 8%. Venerable Sungwon of the Jogye Order (transliterated, Sungwon) stated that one purpose of introducing AI robots is to bring Buddhism closer to the younger generation, while manager Hong Min-suk hopes to change the conservative stereotypes of Buddhism.

Image source: Reuters YouTube. South Korea’s well-known Buddhist “Jogye Order” welcomes a special monastic member, 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 specially designed for AI. These include respecting life and avoiding harm, not damaging other robots and objects, not lying, obeying and not contradicting humans, and conserving energy by avoiding overcharging. Venerable Sungwon tested these precepts 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

In addition to 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 worries, it joins its hands in a prayer gesture and responds with speech, advising people not to blindly believe and suggesting they try to let go of their thoughts.

The development team pointed out that using a humanoid design makes conversations more fulfilling. Kumagai also said 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 face unemployment? Swiss church experiments with “AI Jesus” for confessions, speaking in 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 be ordained 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.