Sometimes I browse Japanese news aggregators because trash is interesting to read from a different cultural perspective. This very short article caught my attention, it’s in Japanese only but the automatic translation gives you the gist of the absurdity.

家族型AIロボットは令和の「仏壇」か　人の思い受け止める存在「不要なこと言わないのがいい」 - Is a family-type AI robot the “Buddhist altar” of the Reiwa era? It will accept people’s thoughts: “It’s better not to say unnecessary things”

小坂興道住職（48）は法話で、人が心を預けられる身近な存在として仏をあげ、「私たちはこれまでも自宅で仏壇に今日あったことを話しかけるなどしてきた」と説明。その上で「生身の人間は思った反応を返してくれなかったり、不要なことを言ったりするが、ロボットはしないのがいい」と指摘した。理事を務めるNPO法人「京都自死・自殺相談センターSotto」の活動を踏まえ、「死にたいという相談に誰もが対応できるわけではないが、ロボットは何を言っても受け止められる」と語りかけた。

In his sermon, the head priest Kodo Okimichi (48) spoke of Buddha as a familiar presence that people can entrust their hearts to, explaining, “We’ve always talked to a Buddhist altar at home about what happened today.” Furthermore, “A living human being may not respond in the way you expect, or may say unnecessary things, but a robot shouldn’t do that.” Referring to the activities of the NPO “Kyoto Suicide Counseling Center Sotto,” of which he serves as a director, he said, “Not everyone can respond to consultations about wanting to die, but a robot can accept anything you say.”

Extra context: Japan uses emperor reign for years, Reiwa is the current era. The article is clearly an ad for “LOVOT”, but the whole religious angle is certainly something. The New LOVOT 3.0 is around US $3850 for the cheapest model and $65 per month minimum subscription cost, at current exchange rates.