Gods and Robots

What will the relationship be between Gods and Robots? Are we set to ascend our religious practices or even make robots, and Artificial Intelligent entities, our new deities? Well, here are three examples of how robots are helping the overworked priests of the 21st century.

Pepper The Robotic Buddhist Priest Debuts In Japan

Softbank’s Pepper has been revolutionary in human-computer interaction and their creators have said the robotic Buddhist could cut the cost of a funeral to under $500 — one quarter of the price of a human priest. Efficiency at this most human moments seems strange yet beguiling.

Mindar the Buddhist robot preaches in Japan, and is shaped like Goddess Kannon

The robot was unveiled at Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto to share Buddha’s teachings in plain terms.
Mindar is modeled after buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon. The deity transforms itself into different forms to help people and “This time, Kannon changed into an android”. The wise robot would “help people who usually have little connection with Buddhism to take an interest” in the religion.
Mindar the robot was created by the temple and MR. Hiroshi Ishiguro, a professor of intelligent robotics at Osaka University,and. It was built by Tokyo-based A-Lab Co.

BlessU-2, the German Blessing Robot