In collaboration with Terraverse Inc. and XNOVA Inc, a research team led by IFOHS Professor Seiji Kumagai have unveiled a new Buddhist AI humanoid robot, called “Buddharoid”. Buddharoid combines the latest humanoid robot technology with the Buddhist dialogue AI “Buddhabot”, also developed by Professor Kumagai and his team. A main focus of Buddharoids development was the aim of integrating AI and with a sense of “embodiment” in the physical world.

 

Details about Buddharoid have been featured in various national and international media outlets, such as Japan’s Mainichi Shinbun and Nikkei Shinbun (February 24, 2026).

 

For more information about Buddharoid, please see the below online articles:

・Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddharoid

・AFP News Agency (France, YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oW-8lJAecrs

・BFM (France)

https://www.bfmtv.com/tech/intelligence-artificielle/il-est-envisageable-qu-il-remplace-certains-rituels-religieux-au-japon-un-robot-moine-alimente-par-l-ia-va-apaiser-les-esprits_AD-202602250567.html (In French)

・euronews. (France)

https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/02/25/meet-buddharoid-japans-ai-powered-robot-monk-trained-in-centuries-of-buddhist-scripture (In French)

・euronews. (France, YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl2zldo03o0

・Le Figaro (France)

https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/japon-le-buddharoid-ce-robot-moine-qui-pourrait-remedier-a-la-penurie-des-religieux-20260226 (In French)

・Libération (France)

https://www.liberation.fr/international/asie-pacifique/au-japon-le-moine-robot-buddharoid-utilise-lia-pour-guider-les-fideles-20260225_7DNTLWQNX5HJBP4VOKWDKEM4CI/ (In French)

・La Voix du Nord (France)

https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1678229/article/2026-02-26/buddharoid-des-chercheurs-japonais-ont-cree-un-robot-moine-pour-guider-les (In French)

・Le magazine GEO (France)

https://www.geo.fr/sciences/buddharoid-le-moine-humanoide-alimente-par-l-ia-pour-guider-les-fideles-231061 (In French)

・Le soir (Belgium)

https://www.lesoir.be/731229/article/2026-02-26/buddharoid-le-japon-experimente-un-nouveau-robot-moine-video (In French)

・Greek Reporter (Greece)

https://greekreporter.com/2026/02/27/japan-unveils-first-ai-buddhist-monk-robot/

・Agerpres (Romania)

https://agerpres.ro/zigzag/2026/02/25/japonia-buddharoid-calugarul-robot-dotat-cu-ai-care-ofera-indrumare-spirituala-credinciosilor–1531691 (In Romanian)

・Radio Romania (Romania)

https://www.radioromania.ro/Actualitate/japonia-un-calugar-budist-robot-dotat-cu-inteligenta-artificiala-inventat-de-un-profesor-id154984.html (In Romanian)

・Високий Замок (Vysokyi Zamok) (Ukraine)

https://wz.lviv.ua/statti/548397-yaponskyi-buddharoid-osnashchenyi-chat-botom-shtuchnoho-intelektu-dopomahatyme-pid-chas-bohosluzhin (In Ukrainian)

・Interesting Engineering (USA)

https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/japan-debuts-buddhist-humanoid-robot-priest

・eWeek (USA)

https://www.eweek.com/news/ai-robot-monk-japan-buddharoid/

・TheMorningNews (USA)

https://themorningnews.com/news/2026/02/27/researchers-create-ai-powered-monk-in-japan/

・El Sol de Mexico (Mexico)

https://oem.com.mx/elsoldemexico/finanzas/robot-monje-da-consejos-espirituales-28658978 (In Spanish)

・Times Brasil | CNBC (Brazil)

https://timesbrasil.com.br/brasil/japao-apresenta-monge-robo-que-da-conselhos-espirituais-com-ia/ (In Portuguese)

・FENATI | Federação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Tecnologia da Informação (Brazil)

https://fenati.org.br/japao-testa-robo-monge-com-ia-em-templos/amp/ (In Portuguese)

・Olhar Digital (Brazil)

https://olhardigital.com.br/2026/02/25/robotica/japao-apresenta-robo-monge-movido-por-ia/ (In Portuguese)

・GZH (Brazil)

https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/mundo/noticia/2026/02/japao-apresenta-monge-robo-que-da-conselhos-espirituais-com-ia-cmm1uu1w000xd016uur334yhs.html (In Portuguese)

・Mix vale (Brazil)

https://www.mixvale.com.br/2026/02/26/buddharoid-monk-robot-uses-ai-for-spiritual-guidance-in-kyoto-temple-en/

・O Povo (Brazil)

https://www.opovo.com.br/noticias/mundo/2026/02/25/japao-apresenta-monge-robo-que-da-conselhos-espirituais-com-ia.html (In Portuguese)

・Colombia One (Colombia)

https://colombiaone.com/2026/02/26/japan-introduces-first-ai-buddhist-monk-robot-support-shrinking-temples/

・Donanim Haber (Turkey)

https://www.donanimhaber.com/japonya-da-insansi-din-adami-robotu-goreve-basladi–202577 (In Turkish)

・Gulf Today (UAE)

https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2026/02/26/ai-robot-monk-buddharoid-unveiled-in-japan

・Aletihad (UAE)

https://en.aletihad.ae/news/ai/4647270/ai-robot-monk-unveiled-in-japan

・Kuwait Times (Kuwait)

https://kuwaittimes.com/article/40390/technology/ai-robot-monk-unveiled-in-japan/

・The Peninsula Qatar (Qatar)

https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/25/02/2026/ai-robot-monk-unveiled-in-japan

・Zamin (Uzbekistan)

https://zamin.uz/en/technology/193237-japanese-robot-monk-based-on-artificial-intelligence-buddharoid-video.html

・Kursiv.media (Kazakhstan)

https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2026-02-25/engk-nknk-japanese-university-unveils-ai-powered-humanoid-buddhist-monk-robot/

・DAWN (Pakistan)

https://www.dawn.com/news/1975822/researchers-unveil-ai-robot-monk-in-japan

・The Nation (Pakistan)

https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Feb-2026/kyoto-university-develops-ai-monk-robot-equipped-buddhist-scriptures#google_vignette

・NHK World Japan (NHK、English Version)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260224_22/

・The News International (Pakistan)

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1393685-japan-launches-ai-robot-monk-to-offer-spiritual-guidance

・Dunya News (Pakistan)

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Technology/937481-japans-ai-robot-monk-designed-to-offer-spiritual-guidance

・Daily The Destination (Pakistan)

https://dailythedestination.com/japan-unveils-ai-powered-robot-monk-buddharoid/

・Orient (Turkmenistan)

https://orient.tm/en/post/96416/buddharoid-ai-powered-robot-monk-was-presented-japan

・africanews. (Republic of the Congo)

https://www.africanews.com/2026/02/26/japan-tests-ai-robot-monk-buddharoid-to-guide-buddhist-faithful/

・News18 (India)

https://www.news18.com/photogallery/viral/japan-releases-ai-robot-monk-offers-spiritual-advice-to-devotees-aa-ws-l-9933717.html

・NDTV (India)

https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/buddharoid-an-ai-powered-robot-monk-11141339

・Etv Bharat (India)

https://www.etvbharat.com/en/technology/ai-robot-monk-unveiled-in-japan-enn26022601213

・The Times of India (India)

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/japan-unveils-buddharoid-an-ai-powered-robot-monk-designed-to-share-buddhist-philosophy-in-an-ageing-society/articleshow/128875773.cms

・Mid-day (India)

https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/japan-unveils-buddharoid-humanoid-robot-trained-on-buddhist-scriptures-23618526

・Firstpost (India, YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4ILKrZlq2p4

・India Today (India)

https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/would-you-take-life-advice-from-an-ai-robot-monk-japan-just-built-one-2874889-2026-02-26

・The Asian Mirror (Sri Lanka)

https://theasianmirror.com/leadstories/77241/buddharoid-japans-ai-robot-monk-offers-spiritual-guidance-and-ritual-assistance/

・The Straits Times (Singapore)

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/ai-robot-monk-unveiled-in-japan

・Nation Thailand (Thailand)

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/world/40063019

・The Star (Malaysia)

https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2026/02/25/ai-robot-monk-unveiled-in-japan

・Media Permata Online (Brunei)

https://mediapermata.com.bn/robot-sami-ai-diperkenal-di-jepun/ (In Malay)

・Berita Satu (Indonesia)

https://www.beritasatu.com/ototekno/2971089/krisis-biksu-jepang-siapkan-robot-ai-yang-bisa-jawab-masalah-hidup (In Indonesian)

・Jangkau Indonesia (Indonesia)

https://www.jangkauindonesia.com/global/55516785978/buddharoid-hadir-di-jepang-gabungkan-tradisi-buddha-dan-kecerdasan-buatan (In Indonesian)

・Tuổi Trẻ (Vietnam)

https://tuoitre.vn/nhat-ban-ra-mat-nha-su-robot-co-the-tu-van-chuyen-tam-linh-20260225142927194.htm (In Vietnamese)

・Congly (Vietnam)

https://congly.vn/nhat-ban-ra-mat-robot-nha-su-ai-512170.html (In Vietnamese)

・Dantri (Vietnam)

https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nhat-ban-he-lo-nha-su-robot-chay-bang-ai-20260225165332790.htm (In Vietnamese)

・ANTV (Vietnam)

https://antv.gov.vn/the-gioi-7/onitsuka-tiger-ra-mat-bst-thu-dong-2026-032131F75.html (In Vietnamese)

・The Manila Times (Philippines)

https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/02/26/world/asia-oceania/ai-robot-monk-unveiled-in-japan/2284771

・Daily Tribune (Philippines)

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/03/04/confession-bot

・The Standard (Hong Kong)

https://www.thestandard.com.hk/world/article/325248/AI-robot-monk-unveiled-in-Japan

・BUDDHISTDOOR GLOBAL (Hong Kong)

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/kyoto-university-researchers-introduce-ai-powered-buddharoid-to-address-japans-aging-clergy/

・UCAN | Union of Catholic Asian News (Hong Kong)

https://www.ucanews.com/news/japanese-researchers-develop-ai-humanoid-to-help-in-buddhist-rituals/112069

・36 Kr (China)

https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/3700240950636166

・The Business Asia Daily (Korea)

https://cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2026022516452503930

・Taipei Times (Taiwan)

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2026/02/26/2003852929

・風傳媒 (Taiwan, Japanese Version)

https://japan.storm.mg/articles/1106327#google_vignette

・Alternative Online (Based in Japan・Media for Brazilian community in Japan)

https://alternativa.co.jp/noticias/tecnologia/188713/universidade-de-kyoto-apresenta-monge-robo-equipado-com-inteligencia-artificial-de-ensinamentos-budistas/ (In Portuguese)

・ARAB NEWS Japan (Based in Japan・Saudi Arabian Media)

https://www.arabnews.jp/en/arts-culture/article_164798/

・ARAB NEWS Japan (Based in Japan・Saudi Arabian Media)

https://www.arabnews.jp/article/arts-culture/article_170153/ (In Japanese)

・Foreign Press Center Japan (Japan’s overseas PR agency)

https://fpcj.jp/en/prlisting/kyoto-univ-buddhist-ai-humanoid-robot-development/

・Tokyo Weekender (Japanese media in English)

https://www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainment/tech-trends/ai-powered-robot-monk-buddharoid/

・Japan Today (Japanese media in English)

https://japantoday.com/category/tech/kyoto-university-develops-ai-monk-robot-equipped-with-buddhist-scriptures?comment-order=latest

・NHK

https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/na-k10015059701000 (In Japanese)

・TBS NEWS DIG (TBS)

https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/2487859 (In Japanese)

・MBS News (MBS)

https://www.mbs.jp/news/kansainews/20260224/GE00071700.shtml (In Japanese)

・MBS News (MBS, YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaCkp8fsyn8 (In Japanese)

・Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS (共同通信)

https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/71123

・The Mainichi

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260226/p2a/00m/0sc/011000c

・日本経済新聞

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUF241OF0U6A220C2000000/ (In Japanese)

・毎日新聞

https://mainichi.jp/graphs/20260224/mpj/00m/040/055000f/20260224mpj00m040051000p (In Japanese)

・京都新聞

https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/-/1665208 (In Japanese)

・京都新聞 (YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CbtRiLD63s (In Japanese)

・北海道新聞

https://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1279079/ (In Japanese)

・東奥日報

https://www.toonippo.co.jp/articles/-/2216323 (In Japanese)

・秋田魁新報

https://www.sakigake.jp/news/article/20260224CO0095/ (In Japanese)

・山形新聞

https://www.yamagata-np.jp/news_core/index_pr.php?kate=Science_Environment_Health&no=2026022401001217 (In Japanese)

・河北新報

https://kahoku.news/articles/knp2026022401001217.html (In Japanese)

・福島民報

https://www.minpo.jp/globalnews/moredetail/2026022401001217 (In Japanese)

・下野新聞

https://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/articles/-/1294725 (In Japanese)

・茨城新聞

https://ibarakinews.jp/news/newsdetail.php?f_jun=CO2026022401001217.1.N.20260224T173924.xml&elem=z (In Japanese)

・埼玉新聞

https://www.saitama-np.co.jp/articles/183356/imageList (In Japanese)

・千葉日報

https://www.chibanippo.co.jp/newspack/20260224/1574916 (In Japanese)

・東京新聞

https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/470814 (In Japanese)

・神奈川新聞

https://www.kanaloco.jp/news/culture/bunka/article-1250664.html (In Japanese)

・新潟日報

https://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/articles/-/785027 (In Japanese)

・信濃毎日新聞

https://www.shinmai.co.jp/news/article/gfkn2026022401001217 (In Japanese)

・富山新聞

https://www.hokkoku.co.jp/articles/-/2026422 (In Japanese)

・北日本新聞

https://webun.jp/articles/-/975163 (In Japanese)

・福井新聞

https://www.fukuishimbun.co.jp/articles/-/2536266 (In Japanese)

・中日新聞

https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1213960 (In Japanese)

・中部経済新聞

https://www.chukei-news.co.jp/news/2026/02/25/OK0002602251501_08/ (In Japanese)

・奈良新聞

https://www.nara-np.co.jp/global/2026022401001216.html (In Japanese)

・神戸新聞

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/zenkoku/compact/202602/0020057877.shtml (In Japanese)

・山陽新聞

https://www.sanyonews.jp/photo/detail?article_id=1878279 (In Japanese)

・中国新聞

https://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/articles/-/791937 (In Japanese)

・四国新聞

https://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/national/science_environmental/20260224000437 (In Japanese)

・愛媛新聞

https://www.ehime-np.co.jp/article/ky202602240209500010 (In Japanese)

・高知新聞

https://www.kochinews.co.jp/article/detail/974624 (In Japanese)

・西日本新聞

https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/1461914/ (In Japanese)

・佐賀新聞

https://www.saga-s.co.jp/articles/gallery/1656570?ph=1 (In Japanese)

・長崎新聞

https://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/kijis/?kijiid=71ad4e5cab4e41ebaadb7209f9bf1203 (In Japanese)

・大分合同新聞

https://www.oita-press.co.jp/1002000000/2026/02/24/NP2026022401001216 (In Japanese)

・南日本新聞

https://373news.com/news/national/photo/2026022401001217 (In Japanese)

・琉球新報

https://ryukyushimpo.jp/national/entry-5067932.html (In Japanese)

・沖縄タイムス

https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1783112 (In Japanese)

・中外日報

https://www.chugainippoh.co.jp/article/news/20260227-007.html (In Japanese)

・ITmedia

https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2602/25/news096.html (In Japanese)

・Ledge.ai

https://ledge.ai/articles/buddharoid_kyoto_university_unitree_g1_shorenin_public_release (In Japanese)

・マイナビニュース

https://news.mynavi.jp/techplus/article/20260227-4171260/ (In Japanese)

・デイリースポーツ

https://www.daily.co.jp/society/science/2026/02/24/0020057879.shtml (In Japanese)

・寺社Now

https://jisya-now.com/news-press/20260228-85352/ (In Japanese)

・Zenn

https://zenn.dev/headwaters/articles/867bccf8813879 (In Japanese)

The story was also covered by MBS News (MBS) and the Kahoku Shimpo (河北新報).