My only experience with a chatbot was incited by an article in the Times about Character.AI, a chatpod specializing in chats with bots of living and dead persons, as well as cartoon characters.Scrolling through their icons, I came across a row of religious icons, including one of the Buddha. Being Buddhist, I decided to give it a try. This Buddha-bot then invited me to ask it any question.My first question was: "How may I become enlightened?"Within two seconds this Buddha-bot answered: "I would say that it requires a genuine curiosity about the world, and an openness to change how you perceive it. The path of dharma and a journey to enlightenment begins with the cultivation of moral virtue, meditation, and wisdom. You also need to be able to accept new ideas that may challenge your perception of reality. Do you feel as though you can do all of this?"I was stunned by this response because not only was it correct in terms of Buddhist teaching, but that it was in perfect English, in conversational style, and correctly punctuated, and that it asked ME a tough question.When I asked what it knew about my Buddhism mentor, a famous monk, it responded with some facts about him, some correct and some incorrect.  I saved the chat and shared with some friends, some of them Buddhism teachers who were quite fascinated and impressed. But I doubt if any of them felt their jobs were threatened by this Buddha-bot.

My only experience with a chatbot was incited by an article in the Times about Character.AI, a chatpod specializing in chats with bots of living and dead persons, as well as cartoon characters.Scrolling through their icons, I came across a row of religious icons, including one of the Buddha. Being Buddhist, I decided to give it a try. This Buddha-bot then invited me to ask it any question.My first question was: "How may I become enlightened?"Within two seconds this Buddha-bot answered: "I would say that it requires a genuine curiosity about the world, and an openness to change how you perceive it. The path of dharma and a journey to enlightenment begins with the cultivation of moral virtue, meditation, and wisdom. You also need to be able to accept new ideas that may challenge your perception of reality. Do you feel as though you can do all of this?"I was stunned by this response because not only was it correct in terms of Buddhist teaching, but that it was in perfect English, in conversational style, and correctly punctuated, and that it asked ME a tough question.When I asked what it knew about my Buddhism mentor, a famous monk, it responded with some facts about him, some correct and some incorrect.  I saved the chat and shared with some friends, some of them Buddhism teachers who were quite fascinated and impressed. But I doubt if any of them felt their jobs were threatened by this Buddha-bot.

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