From “Doctrine of Insentient beings” to AI Monk: Artificial Intelligence and the Technological Transformation of Buddhism

With the development of artificial technology in recent years, the relationship between AI and Buddhism has gradually become a frontier issue. This project will focus on three aspects:
First, based on the findings of previous scholars, it will further describe the “Doctrine of Insentient beings”, which connects the theory of “Insentient being has Buddha-nature” with AI.
Second, the latest AI monks in China, Japan, and Thailand, as well as the chat software for preaching such as Chatgpt, will be taken as cases to explain how AI can contribute to the modernization and transformation of Buddhism.
Furthermore, this project will highlight the limitations of using AI monk. It will also explore what is the real “machine enlightenment”. The aim is to further understand the relationship between Buddhism and AI in the post-epidemic era with rapid technological development.

Faculty Supervisor:

Rongdao Lai

Student:

Partner:

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: