'Buddharoid': Japan unveils AI robot monk to provide spiritual guidance
27 Feb 2026

A research group from Kyoto University, in collaboration with tech firms Teraverse and XNOVA, has unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) robot monk.

The machine, dubbed "Buddharoid," is designed to provide spiritual guidance similar to a human monk.

It was officially presented at Shoren-in Temple by the team of researchers.

The project comes as Japan faces a declining population and an aging society, leading to a decline in organized religion among younger generations.

Buddharoid runs on a system called BuddhaBot-Plus
Tech specs

Buddharoid runs on a system called BuddhaBot-Plus, an AI model based on ChatGPT and trained extensively on Buddhist texts.

The development team says this training allows the robot to respond to personal and societal issues in real time.

Its physical actions are powered by hardware from Unitree Robotics, designed to mimic the measured movements of monastic practice like bowing and performing the traditional gassho gesture.

The creators of Buddharoid hope that the robot will help
Cultural impact

The creators of Buddharoid hope that the robot will help preserve religious traditions while providing a physical presence in temple spaces.

They believe a physical robotic form can provide comfort and interaction beyond what purely digital or screen-based platforms can offer.

This comes as specialists predict that nearly 30% of Buddhist temples across Japan could close by 2040, especially in rural areas where finding successors to run temple operations has become increasingly difficult.

Aim is not to replace human priests but to support
Robot features

Buddharoid can speak, move around, gesture with its hands, and adopt traditional prayer postures.

It was recently demonstrated at a temple in Japan where it walked among attendees and engaged in one-on-one conversations on life, suffering, and morality, central themes of Buddhist teaching.

The creators of this innovative machine stress that their aim is not to replace human priests but to support spiritual engagement in an ever-changing society.