Japanese company Nisseieco Co. Ltd. unveiled a "robot priest" they have programmed to help with tasks at Buddhist temples, including the reading of Buddhist scripture during funeral ceremonies.

A Japanese company has programmed a popular robot, Pepper, to perform Buddhist funeral rites. But will society ever accept artificial intelligence as religious authorities and ritual specialists?

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.

The robot priest has a touch-screen chest, two arms and a head. After you have chosen your language the robot raises its arms, recites a verse from the Bible, and says “God bless and protect you.” ...

KYOTO--Inspired by a priest’s belief that Buddhist practices should evolve, the bodhisattva of compassion and mercy has manifested himself as a robot at a temple here. The android edition of ...

Sabu designed and developed the robot to perform puja to an Ayyappa idol in his research lab in the same way a priest performs in a temple. Even 35 years of its successful induction, the robot ...

On the altar at Kofukuji Temple in Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, were 62 AIBO robot dogs. The head priest chanted sutras and grieving owners in black offered prayers for their "dead" pets.