Japan Introduces AI Robot Monk to Support Buddhist Temples Amid Clergy Decline

Japanese researchers at Kyoto University have unveiled Buddharoid, an AI-powered robot monk designed to support Buddhist temples facing clergy shortages amid Japan's ageing population and declining religious affiliation. Equipped with BuddhaBot-Plus, a generative AI trained on Buddhist scriptures, Buddharoid can engage in interactive spiritual dialogue and perform traditional gestures. The project aims to preserve religious traditions and assist temples, complementing rather than replacing human priests, amid concerns over temple closures by 2040.