Meet Buddharoid: Japan’s AI-powered robot monk trained in centuries of Buddhist scripture
By Theo Farrant & AFP
Published on
As Japan grapples with an aging population and shrinking workforce, researchers in Kyoto are turning to synthetic intelligence to fill an unlikely hole: Buddhist monks.
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Scientists at Kyoto University have unveiled an AI-powered robot monk designed to supply religious steering, reply some of life’s greatest questions and probably even help with spiritual rituals.
The humanoid, named “Buddharoid,” has been trained on huge quantities of Buddhist scriptures, together with extremely specialised texts, giving it the digital knowledge to reply private and philosophical questions.
The mission is led by Seiji Kumagai on the University of Kyoto’s Institute for the Future of Human Society. By integrating superior language fashions with a commercially out there humanoid mannequin, the robot is ready to communicate, gesture, transfer and undertake conventional prayer postures inside temple areas.
Unlike earlier spiritual robots, similar to AI simulations of Jesus Christwhich have been largely pre-programmed or restricted to scripted sermons, the brand new system is designed to carry dynamic conversations whereas performing human-like motions.
During a latest demonstration at a temple in Japan, the faceless, grey-robed robot walked amongst attendees and engaged in one-to-one exchanges.
Take a take a look at the video above to see the robo-monk in motion.
