Korea’s AI robot monk is listening — and answering

For Buddhists — and those curious about the tradition — this weekend marks a major moment of celebration. Temples across the country are already crowded with visitors hoping to take in the festive atmosphere ahead of Buddha’s Birthday, which falls on Sunday. For many, however, the occasion is more introspective: a time to reflect on the past year and renew a commitment to live in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings. This year, in the lead-up to the holiday, one unexpected topic has captured curious glances and sparked conversations in Korea — robot monks marching at last weekend’s Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul. Hye Ahn was one of them. Unlike the headline-grabbing Gabi, a humanoid monk built on China’s Unitree G1 robot platform and recently ordained by Korea’s Jogye Order, Hye Ahn was not built for spectacle. Standing 130 centimeters tall — about the size of a 9-year-old child — the robot monk rolls on a wheeled base, its rounded, cartoon-like face and softly curved body designed to feel less like a cold machine and more like a friendly novice a visitor might app

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