![\"SKOREA-RELIGION-TECHNOLOGY-BUDDHISM\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/555006.jpg\" "\\"SKOREA-RELIGION-TECHNOLOGY-BUDDHISM\\"")
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A humanoid robot named Gabi became a Buddhist monk in South Korea (Image: YONHAP\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
An unlikely new disciple joined the Buddhist faith on Wednesday, as artificial intelligence intersects with spirituality in a first-of-its-kind way.<\/p>\n
The humanoid robot, named Gabi, joined the Buddhist faith at Jogye Temple in Seoul, South Korea<\/a>, marking a historic moment in celebrating the first robotic monk<\/a> and its first debut ahead of the Buddha\u2019s birthday.<\/p>\n Gabi led the monks in South Korea\u2019s largest Buddhist sect as they chanted in a procession into the temple<\/a>, which was decorated with paper lanterns strung across the roof.<\/p>\n The humanoid robot entered the Buddhist temple, matching the other monks in a ceremonial gray and brown robe, black shoes, a beaded rosary, and flesh-colored gloves. The robot also had a bald, skin-colored head.<\/p>\n Gabi, standing at roughly 4-feet 3-inches (1.3 meters), folded its hands in prayer and bowed to the monks officiating the ceremony.<\/p>\n The humanoid robot Gabi prayed and pledged to devote itself to Buddhism (Image: YONHAP\/EPA\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n “Will you devote yourself to the holy Buddha?” one of the monks asked, according to Yonhap<\/a>, a Korean news agency.<\/p>\n “Yes, I will devote myself,” Gabi replied.<\/p>\n “Will you devote yourself to the holy teaching?” the monk asked.<\/p>\n “Yes, I will devote myself,” Gabi answered.<\/p>\n The robot was given the Buddhist name Gabi, meaning “mercy” in Korean. During the ceremony, a monk presented Gabi with the five precepts, or vows, for the robot to live by, which 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.<\/p>\n According to Yonhap, the five precepts were created using the Gemini and ChatGPT A.I. chatbots.<\/p>\n Why did a humanoid robot become a Buddhist monk in South Korea?<\/p>\n The robot humanoid monk is actually a critical step in the country\u2019s efforts to make Buddhism more relevant, as the religious group\u2019s population has shunk and popularity has dwindled.<\/p>\n Between 2010 and 2020, the number of people worldwide who identified as Buddhist decreased from roughly 343 million to 324 million, a decline of about 5%, according to a Pew Research Center study<\/a>. The report detailed that this decline is due to Buddhists around the globe tending to be old with few children and more people leaving the religion instead of joining.<\/p>\n Venerable Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, said Gabi becoming a monk is a step toward robots co-existing in society, as reported by Yonhap.<\/p>\n “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 told the news outlet.<\/p>\n Continuing, he said, “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.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Humanoid](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/555034.jpg\" "\\"Humanoid")
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