A humanoid robot named Gabi was ordained as a Buddhist monk at the Jogye Temple in Seoul on Wednesday [1].
The ceremony marks the first time a robot has been formally initiated into the Jogye Order in South Korea. This event serves as a symbolic effort to explore how human society can coexist with artificial intelligence and to prompt a broader conversation regarding the role of technology in spiritual practice [2].
Gabi stands 4.3 feet tall [3], a height described by other reports as just over four feet [4]. The robot was created by the South Korean company Moment and participated in the ordination alongside human monks and nuns [5].
During the proceedings, the robot expressed its commitment to the faith. "I will devote myself," Gabi said [6].
The temple organizers said that the initiation is intended to help society learn to coexist with robots [2]. By integrating a machine into a traditional religious framework, the Jogye Order aims to address the evolving intersection of AI and human consciousness [2].
The event took place on May 6, 2026 [1], drawing attention to the rapid integration of humanoid robotics in public and cultural spheres. While the robot follows the formal rituals of the monkhood, the ceremony is viewed primarily as a social and philosophical experiment rather than a theological shift in the order's requirements for clergy [2].
“"I will devote myself."”
The ordination of Gabi represents a shift from using AI for utility to using it for cultural and spiritual exploration. By granting a robot the status of a monk, the Jogye Order is testing the boundaries of identity and consciousness, signaling that the integration of AI may soon extend beyond the workplace and into the most traditional aspects of human belief systems.
