‘Hey Buddha’: Japan researchers create AI enlightenment tool

The AI Buddha, developed with the help of an IT company, is also intended as a therapeutic distraction from ‘the increasingly stressful real world’, from Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine, said Kumagai. — Photo by Chris Ensey on Unsplash

TOKYO: What is the meaning of happiness? Why not ask AI Buddha, a tool made by Japanese researchers that brings spiritual guidance from ancient scriptures to your smartphone.

The software, co-developed by a team of religion and computing academics at Kyoto University, has been programmed to memorise around 1,000 teachings from Buddhist texts such as the Sutta Nipata and Dhammapada.