Robot priests, A.I. gods transforming the world of worship

Mindar is the name of a new priest tasked with delivering sermons and overseeing religious ceremonies at a 400-year-old Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Mindar is a reported $1 million carefully crafted, female voice-praying bit of steel and silicon. "This robot will never die," said Tensho Goto, the chief steward at the temple, Vox reported. "It will just keep updating itself and evolving. With [the infusion of artificial intelligence], we hope it will grow in wisdom to help people overcome even the most difficult troubles.