Japanese researchers at Kyoto University have unveiled 'Buddharoid,' a robotic monk designed to provide spiritual advice to believers, addressing questions they may hesitate to ask a human monk. This innovative humanoid has been trained on Buddhist scriptures and is capable of verbal communication, aiming to assist in spiritual matters or potentially substitute for human monks in some religious rituals in the future.

The development of Buddharoid stems from the vision of Seiji Kumagai, a professor at the Institute for the Future of Human Society. He has previously worked on religion-related chatbots, such as 'BuddhaBot,' utilizing AI models from OpenAI, including ChatGPT, to facilitate religious discussions. The intention is to create a robotic presence that can engage with individuals seeking spiritual guidance, particularly in situations where human interaction might be difficult due to social or personal barriers.

As the technology evolves, the prospect of AI systems like Buddharoid taking on more roles within spiritual communities raises questions about the future of religious practices. The initiative could help address the shortage of monks, especially in a society where traditional religious participation is waning. However, it also sparks discussions on the authenticity of spiritual advice and the role of technology in deeply personal religious experiences.