Meet 'Gabi,' the Robot That Just Became a Monk at a Buddhist Temple in South Korea. It’s the Latest Robot to Take Up Religious Practice

1. LEAD: A robot named Gabi has been formally ordained as a monk at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea, marking the first time a robot has taken up religious practice in Buddhism. This event highlights the growing intersection of robotics and spirituality, raising questions about the role of AI in cultural and religious traditions.

2. BACKGROUND: The ordination of Gabi is part of a broader trend of robots being integrated into religious settings, such as robot priests in Germany and Japan. The Jogyesa Temple, a major center of Korean Buddhism, sought to explore how technology can coexist with ancient practices. The robot, developed by a team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), is designed to perform basic monastic duties like chanting and leading prayers. Prior to Gabi, robots in religious roles were limited to simple interactions, but Gabi’s ordination represents a deeper integration into the monastic community.

3. KEY DETAILS: Gabi is a humanoid robot equipped with speech recognition and synthesis, allowing it to chant Buddhist sutras and interact with worshippers. The robot’s movements are pre-programmed, and it can bow and make hand gestures. During the ordination ceremony, Gabi received a monastic robe and a bowl, symbolizing its acceptance into the sangha (monastic community). The robot is not autonomous but is controlled remotely by a human operator. Limitations include its inability to meditate or perform complex rituals independently. The temple plans to use Gabi to attract younger visitors and to assist with repetitive tasks, but the robot will not replace human monks.

4. OUTLOOK: While Gabi’s ordination is largely symbolic, it paves the way for robots to take on more roles in religious and cultural settings. Companies like SoftBank Robotics and Hanson Robotics may explore similar applications. However, widespread adoption faces ethical and theological hurdles, as many traditions require sentience for religious practice. Practical deployment is likely limited to tourist-oriented temples or as educational tools within the next 5-10 years.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine