A robot monk powered by artificial intelligence trained on Buddhist teachings has emerged in Japan to counsel the public.
A research team led by Professor Kumagai Seiji of Kyoto University unveiled "Buddharoid," a conversational humanoid AI robot, at Shorenin temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, on Sunday, according to Kyodo News.
The 1.3-meter-tall robot is equipped with Buddha Bot Plus, a generative AI system trained on early Buddhist scriptures. Professor Kumagai's team developed Buddha Bot Plus in 2023.
During the demonstration, when Professor Kumagai said he was struggling with interpersonal relationships, Buddharoid responded, "Reassess your distance from others and maintain balance in your heart," then pressed its palms together in prayer. Professor Kumagai is also an ordained monk.
The robot, based on a frame from China's Unitree Robotics, naturally replicates key monastic practices including the solemn gait characteristic of monks, worship rituals, and the prayer gesture of pressed palms, Kyodo News reported. Buddharoid uses the latest ChatGPT technology to respond to users' concerns by citing scriptural passages and adding explanations.
"As temples decline due to population decrease, AI robots could bring a new paradigm to religious culture by assisting monks," Professor Kumagai said. "I want to further develop the technology while discussing its applications from an ethical perspective."