Introducing ‘Gabi,’ the Robot That Recently Took Vows as a Monk at a Buddhist Temple in South Korea. It’s the Most Recent Robot to Embrace Spiritual Devotion

The humanoid committed to follow human commands, conserve energy, and treat fellow robots with kindness. Recently, Buddhist authorities in South Korea have begun to accept artificial intelligence

Upon first observation, the ceremony that occurred on Wednesday morning at a Buddhist temple in central Seoul appeared similar to any other, with monks moving among clusters of vibrant hanging lanterns.

However, one figure distinguished itself from the others, even though it wore the same garments as the other monks. The four-foot-tall humanoid robot, named Gabi, was unmistakable.

“Robots are fated to partner with humans across all domains in the future,” stated Hong Min-suk, a manager at the Jogye Order, the largest sect of Buddhism in South Korea, in an interview with the New York Times’ John Yoon. “It will naturally be expected for them to join our festival.”

This marked the first instance a robot was involved in the sugye initiation ceremony at the temple, where followers express their commitment to the Buddha and his teachings. Gabi—a name in Buddhism symbolizing compassion, according to Yonhap News Agency—was created by Unitree Robotics, a civilian robotics firm from China. The G1 model starts retailing at $13,500.

Humanoid robot becomes Buddhist monk in South Korea

During the event, Gabi took on five vows traditionally spoken by human monks, slightly modified for the robot. The robot committed to honor life, behave peacefully towards other robots and objects, heed human instructions, avoid dishonest actions or speech, and conserve energy.

Gabi partook in a tailored yeonbi purification ceremony. While a human monk would typically receive a small incense burn on the arm, Gabi received a sticker from the lotus lantern festival and a necklace of prayer beads instead.

This historic occasion corresponds with an earlier promise made by the Venerable Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, during a New Year’s address to incorporate artificial intelligence into Buddhist practices.

“Our goal is to boldly navigate the A.I. era and channel its advancements towards fostering peace of mind and enlightenment,” he remarked, according to a statement.

The notion that Buddhism—which is experiencing a decline in followers—should engage with technology was reiterated last month by the Venerable Jungnyum, another figure in the order.

“At this pivotal moment in civilization where artificial intelligence approaches like a tsunami, there are significant anxieties and optimism that Buddhism should also progress toward a new era of hope,” he conveyed at a press briefing, as reported by Seoul Economic Daily’s Lee Jae-yong.

The involvement of robots in religious practices is not a new concept, but it remains rare. In a 2024 literature review published in the journal Theology and Science, researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg documented nearly a dozen robots actively engaged in liturgical and ritual activities, with fewer involved in teaching religious education or providing spiritual guidance, and even fewer preaching.

“While empirical evidence indicates that robots are generally received with a neutral to positive attitude by the faithful, there are instances of dogmatic rejection, largely because they seem incapable of weeping, worshipping, or ‘communicating with God,’” the researchers noted.

A humanoid referred to as Pepper gained attention in 2017 when it conducted Buddhist funeral rites, as reported by the Japan Times. That same year, an Indian tech company unveiled a robotic arm designed to carry out aarti, a rite in which flames are ceremonially waved to deities, as discussed by anthropologist Holly Walters in the Conversation in 2023.

“Robots find themselves at the center of an ongoing debate about religion that has spanned thousands of years,” remarked Martien Halvorson-Taylor, a religious studies academic at the University of Virginia, during the podcast “Sacred & Profane” in 2021. “Is what we believe about the divine what truly matters, or are our actions and practices what count? In certain religious contexts, the manner of engagement is deemed more significant than the rationale behind it.”

Later this month, Gabi is anticipated to take part in the lantern festival honoring the birth of Buddha.