Robots as a spirituality guides?

Would You follow advice of the robot? And we are not talking about scientific advices – we talk about life –changing advices which usually were given by priests, monks or philosophers. Get ready for new type of spiritual counselling – AI humanoid monks and priests.

A Buddhist temple northwest of Beijing have a new monk. Humble machine with a touchpad can give the visitors answers to many crucial question about life and spirituality. If You ask him What is the meaning of life?, the little orange-robed robot will respond, My master says the meaning of life is to help more people finally leave behind bitterness and gain happiness.

The robot’s name is Xian and he was developed last year as part of a collaboration between a dozen Chinese technology, culture and investment companies. The aim of creation is to spread Buddhist teachings. As for now, robot is nothing more than a tourist attraction. He is unable to create answers or advices by his own (just follow prescribed scenarios). Somehow it is not so hard to imagine deeper counselling with AI development.

Buddhist AI monk is not the only artificial spiritual counselor in the world. New York-based production company Third Party Films prepared a “pop-up confessional booth” with a robot who’s duties is to listen stories of the sinners and ask follow – up questions. The process of “confession” will be filmed for the pilot of an upcoming HBO documentary series about artificial intelligence. This robot aim is not to soothe the grief and sorrow, but to reveal all secrets of the sinners. (Still it is cheaper than therapy).Would it be easier for you to confess to the artificial intelligence than human?

Robots will not replace human spiritual counselor too fast, but “talk” with them could be interesting experience. By the way – do You want to know, what robot monks answer for a question How I can be more happy? He says: If you’re not happy, what can anyone else do about it?
–and with his optimistic answer we wish you good weekend!

Source: news.discovery.com, theverge.com

fot.: Kim Kyung-Hoon