As reported by Reuters, Gabi was unveiled at Jogye Temple in Seoul just before the celebrations for Buddha’s Birthday.
Who is Gabi?
Gabi stands at 130 centimeters tall and is crafted to participate in Buddhist rituals. Clad in a grey-and-brown robe and black shoes, the robot resembles a traditional monk.
According to The Korea Times, it was present alongside monks and nuns during a precept ceremony, a ritual typically reserved for human devotees embarking on their spiritual journey.
Humanoid robot Gabi folds its hands during a precept ceremony at a temple in Seoul, South Korea. (Image: Reuters)
Taking Buddhist vows
Throughout the ceremony, Gabi folded its hands, bowed to senior monks, and answered questions concerning dedication to Buddha and his teachings.
When queried about its commitment to Buddhism, the robot responded, “Yes, I will devote myself.”
Monks placed a 108-bead rosary around its neck, and instead of a traditional ritual involving symbolic fire, a sticker was utilized.
Humanoid robot Gabi poses for photographs during a precept ceremony at a temple in Seoul, South Korea. (Image: Reuters)
Rules for a robot monk
Gabi has been assigned five modified precepts tailored for a machine: respecting life, not causing harm to other robots or objects, following human direction, avoiding deception, and conserving energy.
What does the name mean?
The Jogye Order named the robot “Gabi.” Ven. Seong Won explained that the name is inspired by Siddhartha and a Korean word associated with mercy, emphasizing the aim of promoting compassion.
He shared with Yonhap News Agency that the name was chosen to be both simple and meaningful.
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/NDzDANRkhl
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 6, 2026
A step towards coexistence
Seong Won mentioned that this initiative is an initial effort to explore the coexistence of humans and robots. Though it may seem unconventional now, he believes such endeavors can help shape society’s adaptation to artificial intelligence.
The Buddhist order also considered tools like Gemini and ChatGPT while formulating the robot’s guiding principles.
What’s next for Gabi?
Gabi is anticipated to participate in the Yeondeunghoe lantern festival later this month, along with three other Buddhist robots: Seokja, Mohee, and Nisa.
