On Wednesday at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, the humanoid robot monk named Gabi was officially unveiled during a ceremonial ordination held ahead of Buddha’s birthday celebrations. Standing about 130 cm tall, Gabi wore traditional grey and brown Buddhist robes and became the first-ever humanoid robot to be seated among senior monks during the ceremony. Gabi, a 4.3-foot-tall robot monk dressed in brown robes, participated in the ordination ceremony at a temple in South Korea.

The event fostered an unusual but expanding link between artificial intelligence technologies and long-established religious practices, drawing interest from both technology specialists and cultural commentators.

Video of the event quickly went viral, showing footage of the robot bowing to monks overseeing the ceremony at Jogye Temple in Seoul as a rosary necklace was placed around its neck on Wednesday (6 May). “Robot monk, please respond with your palms together, ‘Yes, I will devote myself,’” one monk said. “Yes, I will devote myself,” Gabi replied.

During the ceremony, the robot clasped its hands in a prayerful gesture and bowed respectfully to the monks who were conducting the event. Instead of taking part in the customary incense-burning ritual, Gabi was given a symbolic sticker, signifying Gabi’s status as a non-human participant.

The robot named Gabi was introduced as South Korea’s first robotic Buddhist monk, created to show how artificial intelligence can engage with cultural and religious settings. During the ceremony, reports say that when a monk asked whether it would dedicate itself to Buddhism, the robot replied, 'Yes, I will devote myself.' Gabi’s programming included human-like gestures, movements, and responses, enabling it to take part in rituals in a respectful and symbolic manner, while not being regarded as a conscious spiritual entity.