SEOUL: A humanoid robot named Gabi has become the first non-human participant in a Buddhist initiation ceremony in South Korea after taking part in a ritual at Seoul’s famous Jogyesa Temple ahead of Buddha’s Birthday celebrations.
Standing 130 centimetres tall and dressed in traditional brown Buddhist robes, the robot joined monks and nuns during the “sugye” ceremony, where participants formally pledge devotion to Buddha, Buddhist teachings and the monastic community.
Humanoid robot ‘Gabi’ becomes first AI Monk in South Korea
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Developed by Unitree Robotics, Gabi bowed alongside monks in the temple courtyard and pressed its palms together in prayer during the ceremony.
The robot was given the Dharma name “Gabi” — derived from Siddhartha and also meaning mercy in Korean — symbolising its entry into Buddhist practice.
“We tried to give a name that is not too hard to pronounce and old-fashioned, and a name that stands for spreading Buddha’s mercy around the world,” said Ven. Seong Won while explaining the choice of the name.
Traditional monastic customs
During the ritual, a monk asked the robot whether it would commit itself to the teachings of Buddha. Gabi replied: “Yes, I will devote myself.”
The ceremony also included symbolic adaptations of traditional monastic customs. Instead of the customary “yeonbi” ritual involving incense burns, monks attached a sticker to the robot’s arm and placed a 108-bead rosary around its neck.
The Buddhist Five Precepts were also reportedly rewritten specifically for the robot with assistance from AI tools including ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
The revised rules instructed the robot to respect life, avoid harming robots or objects, obey humans, avoid deceptive behaviour, and conserve energy by avoiding overcharging.
“When humanoid robots first appeared three years ago, we thought it would be nice for a robot to play, take part in Yeondeunghoe. This marks the first step,” Ven. Seong Won said.
Gabi is expected to participate later this month in South Korea’s Lotus Lantern Festival alongside other Buddhist-themed robots as organisers explore how emerging technologies can coexist with traditional spiritual practices.
