TOKYO: Japanese researchers have unveiled a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/big-dreams-for-palestinian-teens-at-singapore-robot-fest" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">robot</a>&nbsp;monk powered by AI that they say can dispense spiritual advice and maybe one day ease shortages of its human counterparts. Trained on even the most esoteric Buddhist scriptures, the University of Kyoto says the machine can answer sensitive questions that people may feel hesitant to share with other humans. In addition, &quot;Buddharoid&quot;, as the diminutive two-legged humanoid is known, can offer a sense of presence at religious sanctuaries in addition to voice communications. &quot;In the future, it is conceivable that they may assist with or replace some of the religious rituals traditionally performed by human monks,&quot; the university said in a statement on Wednesday. The robot is the latest offering from Seiji Kumagai, a professor at the university&#39;s Institute for the Future of Human Society. Using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/robot-companion-eases-fear-loneliness-in-hospitals" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">AI models</a> from OpenAI and others, he has worked with engineering firms to develop religious AI chatbots like Buddha Bot and a catechism bot. For his new creation, Kumagai installed his updated &quot;BuddhaBotPlus&quot; on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-professors-robot-dog-claim-at-ai-summit-sparks-uproar" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chinese-made</a> &quot;Unitree G1&quot; humanoid robot to create the AI robo-monk. In a media presentation at a temple on Tuesday, Kumagai presented the robot &mdash; as yet without a face &mdash; wearing a simple grey garment. It held its gloved hands together in a prayer form and walked around in front of reporters and performed other tasks. As it sat on a chair, the humanoid gave advice to a young local journalist who confessed to thinking and worrying too much. &quot;Buddhism teaches that it is important not to blindly follow one&#39;s thoughts or rush headlong into things,&quot; it said in a soothing baritone to the journalist from national broadcaster NHK. &quot;One approach is to calm your mind and let go of the thought itself,&quot; it said. Religious chatbots powered by artificial intelligence are already popular tools &mdash;&nbsp;as well as contentious &mdash; across all major faiths, used by millions of people. Kyoto already has a non-AI android called Mindar that delivers sermons, and in Germany in 2017 a robot was unveiled with a touchscreen with glowing hands that gave blessings in five languages. But the new machine brings AI and robotics together, offering spiritual advice and holding religious conversations while also performing human-like physical motions. Kyoto University said that ethical discussions must continue about the proper use of such tools in religious settings. But with Japan&#39;s shrinking and ageing population making the labor market tighter, the university said the humanoids may take over some tasks in the future. &quot;In the future, AI humanoid robots are expected to be utilized in the religious field, such as assisting with or performing some of the religious rituals traditionally conducted by human priests,&quot; the university said. &quot;This is anticipated to bring about a paradigm shift in religious culture.&quot;

Artificial Intelligence

Developed at Kyoto University, “Buddharoid” can offer spiritual guidance, answer sensitive questions, and perform rituals. Researchers say AI monks could help address priest shortages amid Japan’s aging population.

Japan introduces AI robot monk to the public

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: In eastern Ladakh, India, on Wednesday, operationalized its new Nyoma airbase close to its border with China, even as an extensive army exercise is now underway in Arunachal Pradesh on the eastern front, according to an Indian media report. The developments at the opposite ends of the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) underscore the high military readiness being maintained along the China frontier, the report states. The report, quoting a senior officer, states, &ldquo;There is ongoing reset in bilateral diplomatic ties. Military CBMs are also being progressively strengthened but the trust deficit on the ground remains high.&quot; &quot;With no de-escalation along LAC, troops will continue to be forward deployed for 6th successive winter since multiple Chinese incursions into eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020,&quot; he said. The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, himself flew a C-130J &ldquo;Super Hercules&rdquo; aircraft from Hindon on the outskirts of Delhi to the Mudh airfield at Nyoma, among the world&#39;s highest at an altitude of 13,710 feet, to formally inaugurate the strategically located airbase.He was accompanied by Western Air Command chief Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra. Located just about 35 km from the LAC, Nyoma has undergone an upgrade worth INR2,300 million, which included extending the original airstrip into a 2.7 km &ldquo;rigid pavement&rdquo; runway, a new ATC complex, hangars, a crash bay, and accommodation, the report states. Humanoid robots&nbsp;In a related development, Indian journalist Pravin Sawhney stated in a social media post that humanoid robots will be guarding the LAC. &quot;These humanoid robots will be guarding the LAC &amp; be part of PLAA&#39;s Combined Armed Battalions/Brigades on the LAC. The PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] has huge quantity of operational data on Indian military deployments, logistics &amp; so on since August 2020 when 5G was brought till the LAC in east Ladakh.&nbsp;More to the point: China claims Ladakh!:&quot;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/f9f24b2f-778b-4b57-a7f6-397862128cef-WhatsApp Image 2025-11-15 at 00.33.27.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2025-11-15 at 00.33.27.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"></figure> Although China has plans to integrate robots in its defense forces, according to UBTech, the company making the robots the tweet refers to, states following are the tasks the robots can perform: The robots can walk at a pace of 2.0 m/s, collaborative handling with AGV, can do narrow aisle sorting, co-agent specialization and coordination, sub-millimeter precision manipulation, binocular stereo vison perception and planning, waist rotation angle, 0-1.8m manipulation workspace, deep squat, overhead lifting, autonomous precision palletizing and depalletizing, 3-minute autonomous battery swapping, and 24/7 continuous operation. It remains to be seen what effect, if any, the robots will have on border security and how they will counter the operations of the Nyoma airbase by India.

India

An Indian media report, quoting a senior officer, states, 'There is ongoing reset in bilateral diplomatic ties. Military CBMs are also being progressively strengthened but the trust deficit on the ground remains high.'

Articles tagged with "humanoid robots"

Japan introduces AI robot monk to the public

India operationalizes airbase near China border in Ladakh region