South Korea introduces first humanoid robot monk

On May 6, 2026, a 130-centimeter-tall humanoid robot named Gabi made its debut at Jogye Temple in Seoul, South Korea. The robot, dressed in traditional grey-and-brown Buddhist robes, participated in a ceremony ahead of Buddha's birthday on May 19. During the event, the robot stood before monks and pledged its dedication to Buddhism. This initiative aims to integrate artificial intelligence into traditional religious practices. The development follows a similar project in February 2026 by Kyoto University in Japan, which introduced a robot named Buddharoid. Buddharoid was designed to offer spiritual guidance and perform religious ceremonies by utilizing a vast database of Buddhist scriptures. Both instances highlight the growing global exploration of artificial intelligence within religious and philosophical institutions.