Catherine Thorbecke, Columnist

A Robot Monk Blesses the Humanoid Hype Cycle

May 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC

Catherine Thorbecke is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia tech. Previously she was a tech reporter at CNN and ABC News.

A South Korean Buddhist sect is exploring AI’s impact.
Photographer: Lee Jin-man/AP Photo

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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, prayer beads and comically oversized gloves. This Saturday, it is expected to join three fellow androids at the Lotus Lantern Festival marking Buddha’s birthday.