Humanoid robot named 'Gabi' ordained as Buddhist monk, pledges devotion to 'holy Buddha'

During the ceremony, hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the robot was asked by a monk if it would devote itself to the "holy Buddha."

"Yes, I will devote myself," Gabi responded to the crowd's cheers.

While humans typically pledge to abstain from killing, stealing and intoxicating substances, Gabi's vows were "reprogrammed" for the digital age. The robot pledged to respect and follow humans, refrain from damaging property or other robots, abstain from deceptive behavior and save energy by not overcharging.

"The ordination of a robot signifies that technology must be used in accordance with the values of compassion, wisdom, and responsibility," the order said in a statement shared with The New York Times. Officials added that the move symbolizes "new possibilities for the coexistence of humans and technology."

The Jogye Order did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Despite the temple's optimistic outlook, the move has drawn criticism online. A video of Gabi's pledge quickly surpassed one million views, with some users on X questioning whether a machine can meaningfully participate in religious practice.

"As a Buddhist, I find this ridiculous and insulting," one user wrote.

Gabi is expected to make its next public appearance at Seoul's upcoming Lantern Festival on May 16-17, honoring the Buddha's birthday.