Meditating or Rebooting? A Robot Buddhist Monk Comes to South Korea. Gabi, the newest monk at a temple in Seoul that is looking to spread Buddhism, vowed to not overcharge as it seeks enlightenment.

Gabi led a procession of chanting Buddhist monks into a temple in Seoul. Wearing a ceremonial gray and brown robe, black shoes, a rosary and flesh-colored gloves, Gabi brought hands to prayer. “Will you devote yourself to the holy Buddha?” one of the monks asked. “Yes, I will devote myself,” Gabi replied. “Will you devote yourself to the holy teaching?” the monk asked. “Yes, I will devote myself,” Gabi answered. If these answers sound robotic, that’s because Gabi is, in fact, a robot. On Wednesday, Gabi became the first robot to be ordained as a monk in South Korea by...