AI meets spirituality: Robot monk unveiled in South Korea ahead of Buddha’s birthday

Have you ever imagined what will happen when AI takes over the position of spiritual leader? Initially, it seems like a figment of imagination. Now, artificial intelligence has entered the realm of spirituality.

In South Korea, the first humanoid robot monk has made its official debut at Seoul’s Jogye Temple ahead of Buddha’s birthday, marking an unusual blend of Buddhism and artificial intelligence. Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on May 24, 2026.

As reported by Reuters, during the ceremonial ordination event, the robot monk called Gabi was seen dressed up in traditional grey and brown Buddhist robes.

When asked by senior monks if it would devote itself to Buddhism, the robot replied, “Yes, I will devote myself.”

During the ceremony, Gabi folded its metallic hands and bowed as monks draped a traditional 108-bead rosary around its neck. Contrary to human initiates who undergo a ritual incense burn, the robot received a symbolic sticker, highlighting a modern adaptation.

According to South Korea’s Jogye Order, the name Gabi was inspired by Siddhartha with the meaning of mercy and compassion.

Ven. Seong Won, who handles cultural affairs for the Jogye Order, said this project aims to explore the intersection between humans and robots, showing the possibility of co-existence.

However, the responses of netizens in online spaces are divided. Some users have accepted the growing role of technology in religious and cultural contexts.

One user wrote, “That’s an interesting example of how robotics is being used in cultural and religious contexts. It reflects how technology is increasingly being integrated into traditional settings, often to support ceremony, education, or symbolic demonstrations rather than replace human roles.”

Some disapprove of this practice, calling it “unreal combo of spirituality and technology.”

Another one wrote, “It must be said that LLM is the furthest thing from the Buddhist practice of ‘thinking and attaining enlightenment.’ AI robots are a program that simply outputs data based on weights set by others. LLM can not think of anything.”

Now it remains to be seen whether the AI-powered monk will satisfy humans by taking over this position.