Robot Monk Debuts, While Airlines Ban Robots

South Korea has unveiled Gabi, its first humanoid robot monk, at Seoul's Jogye Temple ahead of Buddha's birthday celebrations.

In parallel, Southwest Airlines has updated its travel policy, now explicitly forbidding the carriage of humanoid or animal-like robots on its aircraft, irrespective of their size or intended purpose. This new restriction applies to both cabin and checked baggage.

The airline's clarification defines a human-like robot as one designed to mimic human appearance, movement, or behavior, and an animal-like robot as one imitating an animal. Other types of robots, such as toys, remain permissible if they fit within carry-on size limits and adhere to battery regulations.

This policy revision was prompted by a widely publicized incident involving a 3.5-foot humanoid robot named Stewie. Stewie, owned by Dallas entrepreneur Aaron Mehdizadeh of The Robot Studio, occupied a passenger seat on a Southwest flight from Las Vegas to Dallas. The robot drew considerable attention as it walked through the airport and boarded the plane.

Southwest cited concerns over lithium-ion batteries, which are common in robots and have been linked to previous onboard fires, as the primary reason for the new ban. The airline stated the clarification ensures compliance with safety guidelines for these batteries. However, Stewie's owner contended that the robot's battery was comparable to a laptop battery and questioned the necessity of the ban.