A humanoid robot joined the ranks of Buddhist monks in South Korea on Wednesday, becoming the first of its kind to take religious vows in the country.
The robot, named Gabi, was inducted into the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul to mark Buddha’s Birthday on May 24. Built by Unitree Robotics, a China-based robotics firm, and standing just over four feet tall, Gabi took its Dharma name through a ritual called “sugye,” committing to the Buddha, his teachings, and the faith community.
The robot led a procession of monks into the temple courtyard, wearing a ceremonial robe, black shoes, pale gloves, and a prayer bead necklace. A monk asked Gabi whether it would devote itself to the holy Buddha. “Yes, I will devote myself,” the robot said. Asked whether it would devote itself to the holy teaching, Gabi gave the same reply.
Ancient Buddhist rites reimagined for a humanoid robot monk
Gabi also participated in “yeonbi,” a rite in which new monks bear incense burns on their bodies as a mark of commitment. The order substituted this with a lotus lantern festival sticker placed on the robot’s arm.
Five rules of conduct were drawn up: protecting life, avoiding harm to other machines and property, following human authority, honest behavior, and controlled energy use. The order used Gemini and ChatGPT to help draft them.
South Korea's first humanoid robot monk made its debut at Jogye Temple in Seoul, ahead of Buddha's birthday. Gabi, the 130-centimeter-tall robot, wore a traditional grey-and-brown Buddhist robe and stood before monks as it pledged to devote itself to Buddhism pic.twitter.com/aBpnnWJw0A
— Khaleej Mag (@KhaleejMag) May 7, 2026
The Venerable Seong Won, the order’s cultural director, said Gabi, meaning mercy in Korean, was picked for its simplicity and its connection to spreading compassion.
The induction of a humanoid robot as a Buddhist monk reflects the order’s effort to stay relevant. Buddhism reached Korea in the fourth century but has seen a long decline. The order’s president committed at the start of the year to integrating AI into the faith.
Scholars see marketing, not spirituality, in Gabi’s ordination
The reaction was mixed. Noah Namgoong, a Zen instructor in New York, said it speaks more to social and economic concerns than to faith. Sujung Kim, an anthropology professor at Johns Hopkins who studies Buddhism in East Asia, described it as a visibility strategy for the order’s prominent Seoul temple.
Japan’s Kyoto University introduced a similar robot in February, one designed to learn scriptures and guide visitors. Gabi’s range appeared more limited, with footage showing the robot lifting its arms rather than bowing.
Namgoong said that if Gabi can guide others toward liberation, as a monk is meant to, it holds real value.
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