On Feb. 24, 2026, Kyoto University researchers presented their AI-powered humanoid Buddhist monk robot, trained on precepts and capable of giving advice based on them, Kyodo News reported.
The presentation took place at Shoren-in Temple in Kyoto, where reporters could ask the robot for guidance. According to the report, the bot provided answers and moved its palms in a prayer gesture.
Notably, the research group’s Prof. Seiji Kumagai, who is a Buddhist monk himself, said the development could help sustain the work of monks amid Japan’s shrinking number of temples.
The robot operates on a custom AI chatbot derived from ChatGPT and uses Chinese-manufactured hardware.
Earlier this month, China demonstrated humanoid robots performing coordinated dances, martial arts moves, and acrobatics at the Spring Festival Gala. The robots executed complex, synchronized routines without falling, denoting a significant progress over previous performances.
