South Korea ordains Gabi, a robot monk, as Buddhist sect tackles declining faith

Meditating or Rebooting? A Robot Buddhist Monk Comes to Korea.

Gabi, the newest monk at a temple in Seoul, vowed to not overcharge as it seeks enlightenment. Gabi led a procession of chanting Buddhist monks into the Jogye Temple in Seoul on Wednesday. Wearing a ceremonial gray and brown robe, black shoes, a rosary and flesh-colored gloves, Gabi brought hands to prayer. "Will you devote yourself to the holy Buddha?" one of the monks asked, according to Yonhap, a Korean news agency. "Yes, I will devote myself," Gabi replied. "Will you devote yourself to the holy teaching?" the monk asked. "Yes, I will devote myself," Gabi answered. If these answers sound robotic, that's because Gabi is, in fact, a robot. At just over four feet tall, Gabi became South Korea's first robot monk when it joined the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist sect. The name Gabi is the Korean word for mercy. "We tried to give a name that is not too hard to pronounce and old-fashioned, and a name that stands for spreading Buddha's mercy around the world," the Venerable Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, told Yonhap. The robot is the latest effort by the country's monks to show the modern relevance of Buddhism. Introduced to Korea around the 4th century, the religion has seen a decline in popularity and practice. In January, the Venerable Jinwoo, the president of the Jogye Order, pledged to incorporate artificial intelligence into the tradition at his annual New Year's address. During the ceremony on Wednesday, a monk presented Gabi with five precepts, or vows, for a Buddhist robot to live by: respecting life and not hurting it; not damaging other robots and objects; following humans and not talking back to them; not behaving or speaking in a deceptive manner; and saving energy and not overcharging. The order developed precepts using the Gemini and ChatGPT A.I. chatbots, Yonhap reported. Noah Namgoong, a Zen instructor at Korea Buddhism Jo-Gei Temple of America in New York City, said the robot was "a pretty weird thing" that spoke more to "something socioeconomic than spiritual." Buddhism has never been a religion of proselytizing, said Sujung Kim, an anthropology professor at Johns Hopkins University who focuses on Buddhism in East Asia. But the introduction of a robot monk may be a play to bolster the religion's social capital and cultural presence, especially given the temple's prominent placement in downtown Seoul. The robot monk, she said, is "very much a unique marketing visibility strategy." Kyoto University in Japan introduced a similar robot in February that was able to learn scriptures and give feedback for people seeking guidance, Dr. Kim said. By contrast, Korean news media showed videos of Gabi waving its hands instead of bowing. While its abilities may be limited, the Korean robot does address a central theme in Buddhism: What does it really mean to be a human being? "The thing about this question is that it's beyond logic, beyond reasoning, beyond ability to think," Mr. Namgoong said, making it difficult for a robot to truly consider, given that "it doesn't have a mind." But when it comes to the social function of a monk, perhaps it could be of some service. "A monk is here to basically help other people liberate themselves," he said. "So if this robot can help others liberate themselves, it can be helpful."

This Buddhist robot monk can bow pray and answer questions

* South Korean monks officially ordained a humanoid robot during a Buddhist temple ceremony * The AI-powered monk answered spiritual vows during its ordination ritual confidently * Gabi received a symbolic sticker instead of the traditional incense burn ceremony South Korean monks at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul have ordained a humanoid robot as a Buddhist monk. The ceremony took place ahead of Buddha's birthday celebrations in May 2026. Gabi, who stands just 130 centimetres tall and wears traditional grey and brown Buddhist robes, folded its metallic hands into a respectful prayer position during the ordination. Artificial intelligence enters the monastery When a senior monk asked if it would devote itself to Buddhism, Gabi answered: "Yes, I will devote myself." The monks then placed a traditional 108 bead rosary around its mechanical neck. Instead of undergoing the customary incense burn, Gabi received a symbolic sticker as a concession to its nature as a machine. Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics developed the Gabi model based on its Unitree G1 platform. The machine has over 23 degrees of freedom, giving it a remarkably fluid range of motion - it can walk steadily, maintain balance, and perform precise gestures with its articulated hands. The robot is powered by an AI platform capable of processing and responding to verbal questions, with these physical and technical features allowing Gabi to bow and fold its hands during the ceremony. Three more spiritual cyborgs will join it at the temple for Buddha's birthday on May 24. Each of these humanoids costs approximately $16,000 according to available information about the Unitree G1 platform. When tech meets faith The ordination has sparked considerable debate among religious scholars and the general public, as many people question whether a machine can genuinely hold spiritual vows or embody Buddhist ideals. Critics argue that a robot cannot understand suffering, which remains the very foundation of Buddhist teaching, and others raise concerns about the trivialization of sacred rituals that should remain deeply human acts. Supporters see Gabi as a creative bridge to engage younger generations with ancient teachings, as South Korea now joins Japan in a growing trend where AI monks have appeared in Buddhist temples. The intersection of faith and technology is no longer purely theoretical but now happening inside sacred spaces. That said, the question of whether a robot can seek enlightenment reveals more about human beings than about machines. A devout machine that cannot feel pain or joy challenges the very definition of spiritual practice. Perhaps the most telling detail was the symbolic sticker replacing the incense burn, a quiet admission that some boundaries remain uncrossed. The line between the spiritual and the synthetic grows thinner, but a robot's folded hands still contain no flesh and no breath. Via Yanko Design Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.

I, robe-ot: the android monk working to reboot the faith of South Korea's Buddhists

Jogyesa temple in South Korea initiated Gabi, a humanoid robot into its order this week, as it combats falling participation and interest Amid rows of colourful lanterns strung across the courtyard of Jogyesa temple in Seoul, an unusual ceremony unfolded this week: monks held a Buddhist initiation for a humanoid robot draped in saffron robe. They placed a string of 108 prayer beads around the robot's neck and affixed a lantern festival sticker to its mechanical arm in place of the traditional yeonbi ritual, in which burning incense is lightly pressed against the skin. The robot was then presented with a formal certificate listing its manufacture date, 3 March 2026, where a human initiate's birth date would normally appear. "At first we discussed it casually," Venerable Sungwon, the order's cultural affairs director, says about the robot ceremony's origins. "It began almost as a joke. But the more we thought about it, the more serious it became. "Robots are entering our lives so quickly, and people feel familiar with them ... They're becoming part of our community." Venerable Sungwon's temple is the headquarters of the Jogye order, South Korea's largest Buddhist denomination, and the initiation of its first robot monk comes at a time of uncertainty for the group, as they grapple with falling participation and interest. Just 16% of South Koreans now identify as Buddhist, down from about 23% in 2005. Among people in their twenties, the figure drops to 8%. Last year, the Jogye order ordained just 99 new monks, down from more than 200 a decade earlier. Yet by another measure, Buddhism has never been more popular. Under its president, Ven Jinwoo, the Jogye order has aggressively courted younger Koreans through what observers call "hip Buddhism" using merchandise, meditation apps and viral marketing. The ordination of Gabi - the 130cm humanoid robot - forms part of this effort to reach more Koreans. During the ceremony on 6 May, Gabi walked before an assembly of monks and worshippers, bowed towards the temple and received five Buddhist precepts. Precepts - the ethical rules governing Buddhist practice - were specially adapted for Gabi. Four prohibited harming life, damaging other robots or objects, engaging in deceptive behaviour or acting disrespectfully towards people. The fifth rule - not to overcharge - proved the trickiest. "Humans drink alcohol and overdo things, right? So what's the robot equivalent?" Ven Sungwon says. "People might think the overcharging rule is just about batteries, but really it's about excess." Ven Sungwon says he drafted the rules himself, then tested them using AI programs ChatGPT and Gemini. "ChatGPT didn't fully understand what precepts are," he says. "They're not just general advice about doing good things together. They're prohibitions." For him, the ceremony was ultimately less about whether robots could become Buddhist than about guiding the humans creating them. The precepts, he said, were inspired by existing robot ethics principles. "Robot-makers must create robots that can follow them." Gabi itself proved less advanced than many people imagined. Teaching it to put its palms together in prayer, for instance, was incredibly difficult, Ven Sungwon says. Despite the challenge, he remains optimistic about the breakneck speed of technological change. "I don't think future AI will cruelly destroy us," he says. "Rather, beings with very high intelligence will care for us tenderly. Someone with an IQ of 150 still cares for a dog with compassion. Now imagine an IQ of 300, 400, 500. We'll be like babies in our mother's arms." Next week, Gabi will rejoin its three mechanical siblings - Seokja, Mohee and Nisa - in the annual Lotus Lantern parade, a major celebration marking Buddha's birthday, where it is expected to walk in the streets of Seoul. For Ven Sungwon, the robot is part of a broader strategy to make Buddhism feel relevant to younger Koreans. "The important thing is that young people visit temples once," he says. "Then when they're older and start thinking about life, they'll naturally return. We can't force people to become Buddhists."

Korea welcomes robotic buddhist monk at a real monastery. It's a sign of things to come.

A humanoid robot has joined a Buddhist ceremony in Seoul, and it was a sight to behold. The robot, named Gabi, was introduced at Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul during a ceremony held ahead of Buddha's Birthday celebrations. The 1.3-meter-tall robot received the Dharma name "Gabi" during a special refuge ceremony conducted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, South Korea's largest Buddhist order. Why a robot became a real monk in a real temple This is not a prop sitting in the corner of a tech demo. The robot appeared in traditional Buddhist robes, bowed, prayed, and participated in the ceremony alongside monks. AP reported that Gabi is expected to serve as an honorary monk during the celebratory period around Buddha's Birthday. Recommended Videos The Jogye Order has treated the project as part of a broader attempt to connect Buddhism with younger generations in South Korea. The country's Buddhist population has declined, and the order has experimented with more modern outreach methods, including digital tools and youth-focused cultural efforts. South Korea's new robot monk arrives after an earlier public debut at Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul's Gangnam District. Back in March, Buddhistdoor reported that the robot was greeting visitors, and was even explaining Buddhist practices such as the 108 prostrations, and answered questions in both Korean and English. How faith meets automation This is not the first time we've seen an intersection between tech and faith. Japan has previously tested robot preachers, including Mindar, an android associated with Kyoto's Kōdai-ji temple that delivers Buddhist sermons. But the only difference now is that these projects arrive amid a broader AI boom, when people are already getting used to asking machines for advice, companionship, and emotional support. So the big question goes beyond how human-like the machine becomes. Can a machine meaningfully explain religious teachings? Should it offer spiritual guidance? And where should human monks draw the line between using technology as a tool and letting it become the face of a tradition? For now, Gabi is more symbolic than revolutionary. It is not replacing monks, and it is not suddenly turning Buddhism into a robot-led religion.

Buddhist sect welcomes humanoid robot Gabi with precept ceremony - The Korea Times

Humanoid robot Gabi circles a tower during a precept ceremony at Jogye Temple in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Under a roof of paper lanterns strung across Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul, a group of monks from the Jogye Order, Korea's largest Buddhist sect, sat across from a postulant awaiting a precept ceremony -- except that postulant was the country's first humanoid robot to take part in the ritual. Clad in humble black shoes and the Buddhist order's ceremonial gray and brown robe, the 1.3-meter-tall robot stood in front of Buddhist monks and nuns as it pledged to commit itself to Buddhism in the ceremony held Wednesday, ahead of Buddha's Birthday later this month. The robot folded its hands together and bowed to the monks officiating the ceremony, as one of the monks carefully hung a 108-bead rosary and attached a sticker instead of the original ritual where one has to slightly burn his arms near an incense stick. "Will you devote yourself to the holy Buddha?" one of the monks asked. "Yes, I will devote myself," the robot replied in an audible voice. "Will you devote yourself to the holy teaching?" the monk asked. "Yes, I will devote myself," the robot answered. The monk then laid out five precepts, or common vows, for a Buddhist to live by that were altered for the robot. They included respecting life and not hurting it, not damaging other robots and objects, following humans and not talking back to them, not behaving or speaking in a deceptive manner, and saving energy and not overcharging. The robot was then given the Buddhist name Gabi, which Ven. Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, said comes from Siddhartha and the Korean word for mercy. "We tried to give a name that is not too hard to pronounce and old-fashioned, and a name that stands for spreading Buddha's mercy around the world," he told Yonhap News Agency when asked about the naming. In a congratulatory message, Ven. Seong Won said he hopes Wednesday's ritual will serve as an occasion for our society to co-exist with robots. "When humanoid robots first appeared three years ago, we thought it would be nice for a robot to take part in Yeondeunghoe, and this marks the first step," he said, referring to the lantern parade held annually to celebrate Buddha's Birthday. "At the current stage, it might seem a bit awkward ... but we hope the five precepts will be considered as basic principles for not only Buddhists but the society to exist together with robots," he said, saying the Buddhist sect referred to artificial intelligence platforms Gemini and Chat GPT to draw up the five principles. Gabi will attend the lantern festival set for later this month, along with three other Buddhist robots: Seokja, Mohee and Nisa.