According to RT, on May 6, South Korea's first humanoid robot monk made its official debut at Chogye Temple in Seoul. Developed by China's Unitree Robotics, the G1 robot, robed in a saffron robe and with hands clasped in prayer, recited scriptures alongside Buddhist monks and took vows to embrace Buddhism.
This event is essentially a carefully orchestrated cultural public relations campaign and a declaration about the future. It is not a religious act, but rather the Korean Buddhist community’s gesture—using the buzz around technology—to extend a "peace olive" toward the digital age.
The most intriguing aspect is the new version of the "Five Precepts" it has adopted. In addition to traditional principles such as respecting life and refraining from deceit, Chogye Sect has specifically introduced two new rules: "Do not defy humans" and "Do not overcharge."
These two precepts are cleverly designed: the former subtly emphasizes human control over AI, while the latter elevates "energy conservation and environmental protection" to the spiritual level of "self-restraint and overcoming greed." Fundamentally, this is an experimental framework for robotic ethics.
As the Cultural Minister of Chogye Sect put it, the key is not that "machines believe in Buddhism," but rather emphasizing that technology should be grounded in compassion and wisdom.
This scene is, in fact, an open rehearsal by South Korean society for ethical considerations regarding "human-machine coexistence" in the era of AI.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864453503344652/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.