“Buddha” and “Monk” on smartphones: AI utilization explored in Buddhist community – risk of information leaks too

Efforts to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) have begun in the Buddhist community. Services that allow people to access Buddha's teachings on their smartphones and information management tools for chief priests have been launched to help solve problems such as a declining population, a decline in the number of Buddhist monks due to ``grave closures,'' and a weakening of interest in Buddhism. However, AI is prone to incorrect answers, and there is also the risk of information leaks due to cyber attacks. Trial and error regarding religion and AI continues.

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``I spend too much time on SNS.'' ``We should assess the true nature of sensual pleasure.'' The answer to the worries I typed into my smartphone was a passage from Suttanipatha, a sutra composed of Buddha's sermons. The Buddhist conversational AI "Buddhabot Plus" answers questions by quoting scriptures and provides easy-to-understand interpretations.

It was developed by Kyoto University professor Seiji Kumagai (Buddhist studies) and Kyoto University-based venture company Terraverse (Kyoto City). An initial model was produced in 2021 after consulting with a monk concerned about the decline of Buddhism. In 2023, the current version, which uses U.S. Open AI's ``Chat GPT'' to read multiple scriptures, was released.

Buddhabot has attracted attention overseas, and last year it was decided to introduce it as a learning material in Bhutan, where Tibetan Buddhism is the state religion. Choten Dorji, former vice-minister of the Central Monastery, which is in charge of educating monks, praised the book, saying, ``You can learn the scriptures more easily and accurately than from books.''

Additionally, in April this year, Bodhi Tree (Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture), which handles Buddhist altars, etc., began offering ``AI Deputy Chief Priest-kun,'' a LINE service that supports temple management. In addition to centrally managing information about the temple priests and making it easier to adjust the schedule of memorial services, an AI chatbot that has learned the way the chief priest speaks will answer the priests' questions.

Bodhi Tree representative Kazuhiro Nakazawa, who is also a monk, explains the aim: ``As administrative work becomes easier, monks should spend more time interacting with the monks.'' Norio Miwa, chief priest of Shogaku-ji Temple (Aisai City, Aichi Prefecture), which introduced the system, said he hopes it will help ``dancers remember the temple.''

However, with the rapid evolution of AI, the risks of cyber-attacks and information leaks are increasing significantly. Professor Kumagai pointed out, ``It would be a big shock if people's worries that they didn't want anyone to hear were leaked.'' ``The important thing (in using AI) is the purpose and motivation to bring happiness to people.It is still unclear to what extent AI can be brought into Buddhism.''