Kyoto Team Debuts Robot Buddhist Guide

Kyoto University researchers led by Seiji Kumagai unveiled Buddharoid on Feb. 26, 2026, a humanoid robot that delivers Buddhist guidance, answers philosophical questions and assists with rituals. Trained on extensive Buddhist scriptures and driven by advanced language models housed in a commercial humanoid body, it demonstrated one-on-one temple dialogues and prayer postures. Developers say it aims to support, not replace, human priests amid Japan's declining monk population.