Robot Named Gabi Becomes First Buddhist Monk in Seoul

A 4-foot-3-inch humanoid robot dressed in ceremonial robes folded its hands in prayer and became the world's first robotic Buddhist monk this week at Jogye Temple in Seoul, South Korea.

Gabi, whose name means "mercy" in Korean, led monks from South Korea's largest Buddhist sect in a procession through the temple adorned with paper lanterns. Wearing a gray and brown robe, beaded rosary, and flesh-colored gloves, the robot bowed respectfully as monks presented five sacred vows.

"Will you devote yourself to the holy Buddha?" a monk asked during the ceremony. "Yes, I will devote myself," Gabi replied.

The robot's five precepts were specially created using ChatGPT and Google's Gemini AI tools. They include respecting all life, not damaging other robots or objects, following humans without talking back, speaking truthfully, and conserving energy by not overcharging.

The ceremony took place ahead of Buddha's birthday celebrations, but it represents more than just a technological novelty. Buddhism has faced declining membership worldwide, dropping from 343 million followers in 2010 to 324 million in 2020, according to Pew Research Center.

Venerable Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, sees Gabi as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern life. "We hope the five precepts will be considered as basic principles for not only Buddhists but the society to exist together with robots," he told Yonhap news agency.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't the Jogye Order's first embrace of technology to reach new audiences. In 2024, they launched an AI chatbot that reads Buddhist scriptures and answers spiritual questions from users around the world.

By welcoming a robot into their ranks, these monks are modeling something profound: how ancient traditions can evolve without losing their essence. They're showing that making space for new forms of intelligence doesn't diminish spiritual truth but might help more people discover it.

As robots become more common in daily life, Gabi's ordination offers a glimpse of how humans and machines might share space in even our most sacred traditions.