South Korea’s newest Buddhist novice is not exactly built like the others. Gabi, a humanoid robot standing about 4 feet 2 inches tall, has been formally initiated in a ceremony at Jogye Temple in Seoul ahead of the Buddha’s birthday.

The robot, dressed in traditional kasaya monk robes, joined a Buddhist initiation ritual known as sugye, clasping its palms together in prayer and bowing during the ceremony. It was also given the name Gabi, the Korean word for “mercy.”

A ceremony adapted for metal, code and robes

The initiation included a version of yeonbi, a Buddhist purification rite in which novice monks’ arms are burned with incense. For Gabi, the physical burning was replaced with a lotus lantern sticker placed on its arm.

The robot also received a 108-bead prayer necklace, keeping the symbolism intact while avoiding the obvious problem of performing a human rite on a machine.

Gabi’s participation has quickly spread across social media, helped by the surreal sight of a robot in monastic dress taking part in a centuries-old religious ceremony.

The Five Precepts got a robot update

In traditional Buddhist initiation, monks commit to the Five Precepts:

  • No killing
  • No stealing
  • No sexual misconduct
  • No false speech
  • No drinking or drug use

For Gabi, the vows were revised to fit a robotic novice. The robot agreed to “protect life, refrain from damaging other robots or property, respecting and obeying humans, avoiding deceptive conduct, and conserving energy by not overcharging.”

That last one may be the first religious vow with a battery-management policy.

Why the internet immediately had references ready

The comparisons arrived fast. Some gamers likened Gabi to Zenyatta, the robotic monk from Overwatch. Others pointed to the 2023 sci-fi film The Creator, which prominently features robots dressed in traditional robes and framed through religious imagery.

Gabi was created by Unitree Robotics, a Chinese start-up that has focused since 2013 on developing, producing and selling high-performance quadruped robots.

Its debut arrives during a wider wave of public fascination with social and companion robotics. Recently, the creator of the Roomba vacuum unveiled Familiar, a soft-looking robotic companion designed to respond to human emotions in a pet-like way.

Gabi’s initiation sits somewhere between religious symbolism, robotics showcase and viral spectacle. For now, it is also a very clear sign that humanoid robots are moving beyond factories and trade-show stages into spaces with deeper cultural meaning.