Gabi, an AI Robot, Has Been Ordained and Is Now a Buddhist Monk
Gabi, a humanoid robot, has been ordained as a Buddhist monk by the Jogye Order in South Korea. The robot's ordination ceremony included pledges adapted for its nature, emphasizing values like compassion and responsibility. Gabi's introduction aims to showcase the harmonious coexistence of technology and tradition in modern Buddhism.
- ▪Gabi was ordained on May 6, 2026, at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul.
- ▪The robot pledged adapted vows, including promises to follow humans and refrain from deceitful behavior.
- ▪Gabi has participated in religious events, including leading a lantern procession for the Lotus Lanterns Festival.
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Upon entering the religious community, monks of the Jogye Order of Buddhism undergo a sacred rite of passage known as ordination. Things were no different for Gabi, who was recently ordained at an event held to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday in early May. Only Gabi is not like the other monks. This is because Gabi is not made of flesh and bone, but of electrical algorithms and aluminum. Gabi is a four-foot humanoid. According to a statement released by the Jogye Order, the introduction of the community’s first robotic monk was intended to highlight the importance of embedding technology with the values of compassion, wisdom, and responsibility, while showing how humans and robots can coexist harmoniously, balancing tradition with the future.Read More: Brown Bears Look Alike to the Human…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Discover Magazine.
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