AI-Powered Monk ‘Gabi’ Takes Buddhist Vows In South Korea

The country has welcomed the first-ever “spiritual robot monk” that combines human and AI elements, attracting worldwide interest. Gabi, a robot named after Gautam Buddha, made its official debut in front of the birthday celebration of Gautam Buddha at Seoul's Jogye Temple.

Gabi, 130 centimetres tall, was dressed in traditional Buddhist attire and was ordained along with the senior monks in a formal ceremony. At the time, the monk asked the humanoid robot if he would give his life to Buddhism, to which Gabi responded, “Yes, I'll dedicate myself.” Again, the monk asked, "Will you give up on the holy teaching? “Yes, I will devote myself,” Gabi answered.

The video posted on social media shows the robot folding its hands and bowing respectfully, just as is done in the traditional ceremony. As a ritual, Monks later put a rosary with 108 beads around Gabi's neck. However, Gabi was allegedly handed a symbolic sticker at the event while partaking in the usual incense burn ceremony.

According to the Jogye Order, which has been the most numerous Buddhist order in South Korea, Gabi is the first robot to be formally ordained as a monk in South Korea. Gabi means “mercy” in Buddhist terms. The ordination of a robot represents the need for technology to be used in the spirit of compassion, wisdom, and responsibility,” the order said in a statement, “and the promises of new relationships between humanity and technology.”

Ven. Seong Won, head of cultural affairs for the Jogye Order, told Reuters that it's an early investigation into “human-robot coexistence in the future.” He said that what seems a bit unusual today could be more and more relevant as societies embrace artificial intelligence and robotics.

The president of the Jogye Order, the Venerable Jinwoo, instructed the use of artificial intelligence in the tradition in January during his annual New Year's address. A manager of the Jogye Order, Hong Min-suk, said he had hope the robot would help propagate Buddhism and make people see the religion as progressive.

The robot will be on display at the Lotus Lantern Festival later this month, one of the biggest festivals in South Korea to celebrate Buddha's birth. In an interview on Thursday at the Jogye Temple in Seoul, Hong said that “robots will work with humans in all fields in the future.” “It will be natural for them to be a part of our festival.”

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