A robot monk blesses the humanoid hype cycle
AI-enabled robotics looks impressive but progress in the field calls for more than theatrical performance.
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Gabi, a humanoid robot dressed as a Buddhist monk, attending an ordination ceremony at Jogye Temple in Seoul on May 6.
PHOTO: AFP
Catherine Thorbecke
South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect has welcomed its first humanoid robot. But actual monks around the world probably don’t have to worry for their jobs just yet.
Named Gabi, Korean for Buddha’s mercy, the Unitree G1 device appeared last week at a Seoul temple in a rust-brown robe, complete with prayer beads and comically oversized gloves. On May 16, it is expected to join three fellow androids at the Lotus Lantern Festival marking Buddha’s birthday.
