AI Buddha from Japan debuts in Bhutan.

A Bhutanese AI chatbot, Buddhabot Plus, answers questions from a Buddhist perspective, aiding monks and potentially reaching the public.

In Bhutan, a new AI chatbot called Buddhabot Plus will start answering questions from a Buddhist perspective. Developed by a team from Kyoto University and a startup, Buddhabot was initially launched in 2021, focusing on the Sutta Nipata—Buddha's earliest discourses—before expanding to include other classic texts.

Now revamped with OpenAI's ChatGPT, Buddhabot Plus provides interpretations and insights into these teachings. Aiming to refine its features, about 100 to 200 monks in Bhutan will test it, with a full rollout expected by March 2027. There’s even talk of eventually making it accessible to the public, especially as interest in Buddhism dwindles among youth.

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