Researchers have unveiled a humanoid robot that’s powered by a Buddhist scripture-trained AI that can walk, bow, and hold face-to-face religious conversations, and it’s giving serious real-life Zenyatta vibes.
The robot, called BuddhaDroid, runs on “BuddhaBot Plus,” a generative AI first developed in 2023 and trained on early Buddhist texts.
According to Japanese outlet Mainichi Shimbun, the system was built using passages that record the Buddha’s responses to his disciples, allowing it to answer modern questions using scriptural wording before adding interpretation and explanation.
AI monk robot assists with religious ceremonies
The project is led by Seiji Kumagai of Kyoto University’s Institute for the Future of Human Society, in collaboration with AI startup Teraverse.
While earlier versions of the team’s work focused purely on dialogue, BuddhaDroid marks a shift toward giving the AI a body. The robo monk has been trained to walk at a calm, solemn pace, perform respectful bows, and press its palms together in prayer toward Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and monks.
The BuddhaBot Plus system uses the latest version of ChatGPT and uses voice recognition, response generation, speech synthesis, and coordinated body movement, enabling natural spoken exchanges in face-to-face environments.
Developers say the robot could act as a consultation partner for people who find it difficult to speak with a living monk and could also help address labor shortages by assisting with certain religious ceremonies.
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