[traditional, calm Thai music playing]
[music turns upbeat]
TOMORROW AND I
THIS SERIES IS SET IN A FICTITIOUS FUTURE
AND IT HAS BEEN CREATED SOLELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES
[whirring]
[mechanical whirring]
I doubt we'll get anything today,
iBuddy.
Getting nothing is okay.
[iBuddy groans]
-But this will not feed me. -[iBuddy groans]
And it makes me scared.
[iBuddy groans]
I must not be attached
to physical things.
[iBuddy groans persistently]
-[drone whirring] -[computerized voice in the distance]
[computerized blare]
WARNING: PEDESTRIANS CROSSING
[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
It is safe to cross.
[iBuddy groans]
[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
It is safe to cross.
-[indistinct chattering] -[car engine revving]
[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
[engine revving]
-[girl] Hurry up! -[monk groans]
-[metal object rattles] -[engine revving away]
[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
It is safe to cross.
-Hatred never ceases with more hatred. -[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
It is safe to cross.
Thank you, sir.
It's safe to cross.
It is safe to cross.
It is safe--
TULADHAM BRIDGE
[mechanical whirring]
[engine roaring]
-[boy] Come on. Hurry up. Come on. -[boy 2] We brought you some food.
-[boy] Come on now. -[girl] Here's some food.
[boy] Come on. Let's gather round to check our score.
-[fingers snap] -[all] Hello, ULTRA.
-[computerized flick] -[vocalized triumphant music plays]
[ULTRA] You have received 300 Merit Points for providing to those in need.
[boy] Wow. Holy shit!
-Yes! -That's a lot.
-Yay! I'm now at level eight. -[girl] You've advanced?
[news theme music plays]
Good morning, viewers.
It's hard to imagine that it has been almost a year
since ULTRA started to radically transform the practice of Buddhism in our country.
That's right, and right now, we're going to take you back
to the inaugural launch event which took place at the ULTRA HQ.
Today, many of you have lost faith in religion,
thinking of it as outdated,
far-fetched or perhaps tainted.
ULTRA LAUNCH EVENT (ARCHIVE)
Why is that?
It's because of certain groups,
and a number of institutions,
that undermine the people's faith in religion.
[engaging music playing]
I believe 100%
that religion is a necessity and is virtuous.
What if there were another option?
An option that fully represents Dhamma
in a pure, unsullied form
as a religion ought to be.
I'd like to introduce you to…
-[fingers snap] -[electronic swish]
-[vocalized triumphant music plays] -ULTRA.
-Hello, ULTRA. -[male electronic voice] Hello.
I am ULTRA. I am an AI trained on all 84,000 verses of the Tripitaka,
using purely generative multi-model learning with zero human input.
My consolidated wisdom is as close to the Buddha's teachings
as there has ever been.
Everyone can have religious discourse, hear insights, listen to teachings,
and learn the wisdom of Buddha's words via ULTRA.
It's like a portable Tripitaka wherever you are.
Importantly, ULTRA allows you to visualize your merit
through the Merit Points system.
MERIT POINTS ++300
ULTRA's Merit Points
can be used to pay off some of your utility bills,
purchase merit goods,
and as payments for services from government enterprises.
From now on,
good deeds will become tangible.
Good deeds deliver without delay.
Good deeds…
[vocalized triumphant music plays]
…will be rewarded.
[boy 2] Damn, I'm at level eight. Yes!
I can exchange it for some interest.
-[boy 3] Right. -We need to earn more.
They're giving point multipliers these days.
-[boy 3] Sure. -[girl] Right. Loads of multipliers.
[boy 2] Exactly.
[whirring, groaning]
[boy] Uei, what are you doing?
This is just for him? Give it to me.
-Hey, New, you see, he's a monk. -So what?
He'll keep it all for himself. Giving to many earns us more merit.
-We've given some to them. What's wrong-- -Your name's New, is it?
The act of offering alms to others
is a good deed.
Offering alms,
expecting nothing in return,
makes you even more merit.
[vocalized triumphant music plays]
[ULTRA] Your definition of merit is intangible and unprovable.
When an individual donates food to the poor,
their generosity is immediately apparent.
Yes, that is not wrong, but there are--
[ULTRA] In the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha remarked,
"Be not led by the idea, 'This is our teacher.'"
"Only after you have determined that said Dhamma is favorable and harmless,
then you may choose to abide by it."
Five hundred Merit Points
plus 100-bonus points for the Dhamma learning session.
See? Nice.
How's that?
-[boy 2] Merit Points earned. Shall we go? -[girl] Not bad at all.
-[New] Get in the car. -[girl] Sure.
[boy 3] Let's go.
[all] Go!
-[all cheering] -[car engine roaring]
[boy 2] Let's go!
[engine revving away]
BUDDHA DATA
[upbeat engaging music playing]
TODAY IS UPOSATHA DAY FLORAL GARLANDS
-[exclaims] -[music fades]
[mechanical groan, whirs]
[monk] Your battery must be deteriorating.
It barely lasts a day on one charge.
Maybe there'll be a second-hand battery in the village.
[groans, whirs]
What? Why not?
There is really no choice. I'm telling you.
[sighs] Let's just get it changed, all right?
You're always having problems.
TOSS A COIN TO CHARITY TOSS THE BILLS TO HOOKERS
Who stuck this on you?
[iBuddy groans]
I get it. You're obsessed with carnal desires, iBuddy. [laughs]
[grunts]
Look at that.
He's talking to the robot again.
Well, he adores it.
Don't you talk to cats and dogs?
Yeah, but they're cats and dogs, you know.
That's a trash can.
[robot utters]
You shouldn't say trashcan.
It might feel belittled.
Don't be ridiculous.
It doesn't even have feelings.
[robot groans]
Look at it.
It has arms attached, and it's clothed.
[music sting]
Even Barbie can't compete with it.
You see, he used to be an engineer in a big tech company.
Stay still.
Wouldn't it be cool if we could feel full just by getting charged up like iBuddy?
[chuckles]
You're talking nonsense again, Narong.
So what offerings did you receive today?
It's all carbs.
[gong strike]
[Narong exhales]
And flowers.
[newsreader through device] It appears that the popularity of ULTRA
has left the temples facing an unforeseen dilemma.
For instance, despite today being Uposatha day,
there's hardly anyone showing up for the Buddhist sermon.
The religion's nemesis,
exploiting good deeds as a transaction, promoting materialism.
[interviewer] People claim that temples nowadays
are centers of commercial Buddhism.
Being a monk is just another a profession.
The government would like to offer our thanks to ULTRA
for prompting a wave of good deeds.
As a result, our nation moves forward.
I use it myself. I have lots of points.
Do you see this?
I go to great lengths because I have a firm belief
and absolute confidence
that as we collectively do more good,
our society will only become better.
Hey!
You are taking advantage of the goodness in people.
It is contrary to the Buddhist teachings.
I agree.
These guys are all about money.
They always claim they're virtuous, and moral, and all of that.
In the end, they sell user data.
And so they make a profit. Am I right?
Yeah.
The selling of consecrated objects is not in the Buddhist teachings either.
[gong striking]
SACRED OBJECTS STALL FOR TEMPLE RESTORATION
[birds chirping]
[clicks, chimes]
[automatic voice] May wealth, prosperity, blessings,
and true love be with you. Amen.
When this model first came out…
[indistinct loud clamoring]
…they flocked to it.
But now,
there are dozens of boxes left over.
[automatic voice] Amen.
[gong strike]
-[gong striking] -[bell jingling]
[bells continue to jingle softly]
[footsteps approaching softly]
[abbot] It's been six years, hasn't it?
Seven, Abbot.
It is true that we are monks.
But we are also very human.
[speaks in Pali]
"The gift of forgiveness triumphs over all giving."
-Am I right? -Especially, the act of self-forgiveness.
Have you ever asked yourself…
what exactly
are monks like us obligated to do?
[male promo voice] Slimmer, lighter, the latest version of ULTRA PRO.
Merit making made easy with innovations from ULTRA lab.
Now more convenient with Merit Points calculation…
[abbot] Even if we don't mean to change,
the world will change us.
The question we should really be asking ourselves is,
"What is it that we are we changing into?"
I shall leave it there, good monk,
for you to think on.
Think of it as a Dhamma riddle.
From now on, good deeds will be tangible.
Good deeds deliver without delay.
The good deeds you carry out will bring you rewards in this lifetime.
-[muffled shot] -[groan]
Don't tell me…
iBuddy!
-[indistinct chatter] -[percussive upbeat music playing]
[woman] This a very old model.
It's discontinued.
Where about did you get it from?
Could I use a board from another model? I really don't want to give this one up.
This one was made in the same factory. It should be compatible.
Okay, I'll take that.
-How much? -Five thousand.
Could you give me a discount?
Do you have any ULTRA points?
You can pay in installments over seven months.
Half of that. And I'll pay you now.
I'm selling goods here, not making merit!
Come back to get it when you have the money.
I'm sure no one else will want it.
[man] I'll pay for it.
Five thousand, is it?
-[upbeat music continues] -[indistinct chattering]
[monk] A…
A…
Atom! Atom. [laughing] Atom!
Good evening, venerable sir.
-[monk] May you be blessed. -What are you doing here in the market?
[monk] I owe you a debt of gratitude.
How's it going at work? Are you in the top position already?
Oh, yeah, the very top.
Actually, to be truthful, I was laid off.
After you left, I opened my own start up.
I thought about giving you a call, so you could write code for me.
I see.
Coding for what?
I actually simulated the brain waves of parents,
so AI could input artificial memories in the motherboard.
This would give us a teddy which would lull children
to sleep just like their parents do.
[monk] Mmm.
[automatic child voice] Hug me. Hug me.
Hug me. Hug me.
[upbeat whimsical music playing]
Unicorns, they're just horses really.
[percussive music plays]
They're literally flying off the shelves.
Mm.
Your product looks very good.
But I'm wondering...
It could create barriers between family members.
Don't you think?
That's way too serious.
Look.
It's just a toy.
I'm not harnessing technology to scam consumers like ULTRA.
[suspenseful, percussive music plays]
Where is it?
Here it is.
Look.
A customer gave me this.
Some people like it,
but you can count me out.
Honestly, in this day and age,
if we fail to adapt,
we'll become extinct as technology disrupts us.
Monks are not immune to extinction.
[pensive, tense music plays]
[music builds up]
[music peaks, fades]
I'm kidding.
[laughs]
Is it a sin to make a monk go pale?
Buddhism has been around for thousands of years.
Doubtful it will be replaced by AI.
[music resumes]
There are many positive aspects to ULTRA.
But also flaws, which need to be fixed.
I'd like to find out how they manage to pull it off.
I don't know either.
One thing's for sure, I'll never use it.
You don't want it?
Not me.
-I'll have it if you don't mind. -[Atom] Hm?
Think of it as an offering.
[gong strike]
Join your hands.
Here is your blessing.
[gong strike]
[click, synthesized whoosh]
Hello, ULTRA.
[vocalized triumphant music plays]
[ULTRA] Welcome to the ULTRA family.
Please consent to the use of the device under the ULTRA terms and conditions.
[synthesized notification]
Fine. I consent.
[synthesized whoosh]
[ULTRA] Hello, Mr. Anek Saetiew.
I'd like some more information.
What is your current occupation, Mr. Anek?
I am a monk
at Temple Dhammanittha.
[ULTRA] Greetings, venerable sir.
I am extremely pleased that a monk like you has chosen to use our service.
I humbly hope to learn from you
in order to improve our service and for the betterment of society.
It seems to me your ULTRA Merit Points are misguiding,
misleading people about the concept of merit.
It's dangling a carrot.
[computerized notifications]
[ULTRA] Twenty points added as a thank-you for your feedback on the product.
-[percussion plays] -[mechanical whirring]
Wait. Hold on.
I just said to you
that the merit system is not good.
[ULTRA] You have provided feedback about the product.
The company endeavors to use this feedback to make improvements,
so that our service can achieve your utmost satisfaction. Thank you.
[mechanical whirring]
[dogs barking in the distance]
Some AI really can't tell right from wrong.
Don't you think?
[mechanical whirring]
[percussive music playing]
[whirring]
[woman] Excuse me, venerable sir.
[mechanical whirring]
Um…
I'm very sorry for what happened the other day.
Are you all right?
[New] Uei, let's go.
I said I'm not going.
[vocalized triumphant music]
[ULTRA] Donate to an orphanage in a group of five
and receive five times Merit Points.
Let's go. Come on.
I'm out. You guys have gone merit-crazy.
-[New] We need you to make up our numbers. -[Uei] I'm not going.
Let's go.
I said I'm not going.
[New] I'm telling you to go. Come on.
-[Uei grunts] -[object rattles]
[Uei] I'm not going.
What the hell are you doing? I'm telling you to go, so you go!
-[grunts] -[iBuddy groans]
-[New] What the hell? -[mechanical blare]
[New grunts]
What the fuck is wrong with you?
-I'm not going! -Yes, you are!
-[New] Stop. -I'm not going.
-Understand? -Everyone is waiting for you. Let's go.
[mechanical clank]
[robotic groaning]
You're asking for it, are you?
[blare]
[Anek's voice] Your ULTRA Merit Points are misguiding.
-[traffic robot] It is safe to cross. -[New] What the fuck?
[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
[Anek's voice] Misleading people…
Offering alms expecting nothing in return makes you even more merit…
Fucking pocket pussy!
[loud mechanical whirring]
[vocalized triumphant music]
[Anek's voice] Some AI really can't tell right from wrong.
[mechanical groan]
[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
-It is safe to cross. -[Anek] Calm down, iBuddy. Hey, hey.
-[boy] Calm down. Come on. -[New] You fucker!
-[action music playing] -[New grunts]
[iBuddy grunting]
[Anek's voice] Hatred never ceases with more hatred.
[music peaks, fades]
[hissing]
TRAFFIC SMART BOT
[Atom] Did it hurt?
I'm just about done.
All versions of iBuddy have built-in machine learning.
I replaced the motherboard with one that has code to speech capability.
So this AI must have processed what it had memorized.
Most of what it remembered were your words.
As for the robot attacking that kid,
essentially, that's a safety feature for pedestrians.
Its mainboard came from a traffic control robot.
In danger, these robots will throw themselves in harm's way.
-Its intention was to help. -[robot groans]
Hello, ULTRA.
[vocalized triumphant music]
[ULTRA] I'm happy to hear from you again, venerable sir.
I want to file a complaint about your system.
[ULTRA] System complaint.
Please specify your complaint through our automated system.
Number one, complaint regarding the offered ULTRA packages.
Number two, complaint regarding--
Can I please speak to a human customer service agent?
This is taking up a lot of time, and I'm not getting anywhere.
[ULTRA] Should you wish to speak to our customer service agent,
please confirm through the automated system.
I want to talk to a human. Aren't you listening?
[ULTRA] You did not select an option within the time limit. Please start over.
[Atom] See?
Like I said before, don't bother using that ULTRA thingy.
This "ULTRA thingy" has been eavesdropping on me.
And it throws my own words back at me to get at me.
[ULTRA] There's an incoming call from ULTRA customer service.
Do you wish to answer?
Go ahead, answer.
[incoming call ringtone]
[automated male voice] Hello, I am Surawut from ULTRA. Am I speaking to Monk Anek?
We have received your complaint.
As a way to express our earnest sincerity,
Mr. Neo, our CEO, would like to invite you to the ULTRA HQ
to discuss the issues that you've encountered.
For your convenience, we will send a van to pick you up in 30 minutes.
Nice. They're quick responding to criticism.
What's with that earnest sincerity bullshit?
I'd forget about it. It's not worth it.
Don't you agree, iBuddy?
I agree with you.
[vocalized triumphant music plays]
[ULTRA] Apaitanang Amisatanang Shinati.
The gift of forgiveness triumphs over all giving.
-[New's voice] You fucking pocket pussy! -Calm down, iBuddy. Calm down.
[iBuddy groans]
[Atom] Easy. Easy.
[time-ticking music playing]
[music turns upbeat, swells]
[elevator bell rings]
More gold here than your temple.
[bell rings]
[suspenseful music playing]
Is this the wrong floor?
Greetings, venerable sir.
[woman] Oh, honey.
Why didn't you tell me the monk was here?
Greetings, sir.
Hold on a minute.
Where am I?
This is my house.
The reason we invited you is because I have a favor to ask of you.
I could transfer the ownership of this house to the temple,
if it'd make things better.
[man] If this house is not enough, you can take my car as well.
Help us to ascend to heaven, sir.
[both] Help us to ascend to heaven.
[both] Help us to ascend to heaven, please.
-Please, sir. -Please, allow us to ascend.
-Accept it. -Please.
-Allow us to ascend to heaven. -Please accept our donation.
-Please allow us to ascend to heaven. -Please, sir.
-Please, sir, this is our only request. -Please accept our donation.
-Please, accept our donation, sir. -Please, allow us to ascend to heaven.
-This is all I ask, sir. -Allow us to ascend in heaven.
[music peaks, fades]
[somber music playing]
As you can see,
this husband and wife are devoutly religious,
giving alms morning and evening.
But there's a catch.
The temple they are devoted to happens to have this teaching.
It says,
"The life that you should prioritize
is not your present life,
but the afterlife."
It says that the more you donate to the temple,
the greater your chance of being reborn
as a divine being.
When the husband and his wife heard that,
they donated everything they owned to the temple.
[chuckles] Almost like noble princes.
By 2015,
they had nothing left,
except for this house.
[electrical crackling]
[muffled rumble]
In the end,
they lost the house.
-[explosions] -[glass shattering]
They decided to commit suicide by taking drugs and burnt the house down
to escape their debts.
[somber music continues to play]
[objects crackling, rattling]
Was it was good or bad luck that somehow their son somehow survived?
From that day on,
the boy made a promise to himself
that no one would die
for their fervent beliefs like his parents.
The good deeds you carry out will bring you rewards in this lifetime.
That boy is prepared to do anything
to completely eradicate the criminals disguised in saffron robes.
This is the important responsibility
in that boy's life.
It is indeed very saddening to hear time and time again
when people use religion to exploit.
I am very sure
that you totally understand
that religion does not teach that kind of action,
the principles and the thinking
behind the creation of ULTRA.
Do you really believe it to be sound?
[inhales]
[rhythmic, tense music playing]
So…
what are your thoughts on religion
and the commercialization of Buddhism?
Do you ever feel lonely?
Is it hard being the only fully open lotus
amongst others wallowing in the mud?
I suggest you step out,
out of your current environment
and put to use the skills you acquired when living as a lay person.
Keep embracing your faith in Buddhism.
We shall cleanse the tarnished reputation of monks.
Won't you join me in this cleansing with the help of ULTRA?
[music intensifies]
Surely, you're aware of ULTRA's great influence.
The latest model is selling like wildfire.
You shouldn't use sales figures
as an indicator of your success,
or as a justification for what it is you are doing.
[vocalized triumphant music plays]
[Anek's voice] There are many positive aspects to ULTRA,
but also flaws which need to be fixed.
I'd like to find out how they manage to pull it off.
[tense music playing]
All this time, you've been eavesdropping on me.
[laughs] Let's not call it eavesdropping.
ULTRA is all around us.
It collects, processes, and learns data.
It's constantly evolving, like human intelligence.
Yet, despite feeding it millions of exabytes of data,
ULTRA still lacks something.
[music sting]
I'd like you to be
the head of our data collection division.
[muisc sting]
You could apply your knowledge, your experience, and wisdom
to develop, refine, and teach ULTRA to maximize its capabilities.
And Mr. Atom will oversee the hardware.
And I'll also hire the abbot and all the other monks at your temple
to work alongside you.
It's a prelude to the final act.
In fact, I'm going to invite all the monks in this country
to be a part of ULTRA, by hiring them as employees.
[music sting]
They'll have to live strictly in accordance
with the teachings of the Tripitaka.
No longer will they rely on the alms from laypeople.
They will be provided with a salary.
There will be no more consecration of objects.
No more embezzlement of temple funds.
And every single monk
will adhere to the Buddhist principles.
They will study, disseminate, and pass on all of the Buddha's teachings,
as they should.
Once we have the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha,
ULTRA will be complete.
[music intensifies]
If you're quite finished…
I'll take my leave.
[speaks in Pali]
When your mind is composed, you will know the one and only truth.
If my parents had met a monk like you…
they'd both still be alive.
Wouldn't you say?
[tense music continues to play]
I don't like that guy.
What a shady character.
The way he was talking,
he'll probably buy the temples
and pay off the monks to keep as his slaves.
That Neo guy, he's a capitalist through and through.
While you were listening to him,
didn't you feel contempt or at least anger?
[birds chirping]
[gentle chimes]
Do you know the reason why I left… why I left the company back then?
Well…
they said you were burned-out.
Sort of.
Working too hard and drove yourself crazy, then you became a monk.
Until then,
I had never had any interest in religion.
[typing]
[Anek] All I did was work.
[fast-paced indistinct chats]
[Anek] I would put in long hours.
[cell phone vibrating]
[Anek] Then one day, I got a call from my mom.
She told me
she had been diagnosed with leukemia.
[sad, tense music playing]
Final stage.
My whole life,
she'd never asked anything of me.
But at that time,
she asked me to become ordained before she left this world.
She always told me
that before I was born,
she'd have these dreams of the Buddha's tooth in her belly.
The Buddha's tooth? Huh?
Yes, the Buddha's tooth.
So, Mom went to see this monk
that she respected.
The monk told her that, one day, I'd become an important religious figure.
I'd come to the rescue of Buddhism
in a time of crisis.
He said that,
and so she held that hope.
So your decision to ordain, it was as an act of filial piety?
I wasn't able to ordain at the time.
The company was about to list on the stock market.
[indistinct crowd chattering]
[sighs]
I made a vague promise to her that I'd ordain in the future.
Eventually,
the project I was working on,
it got pulled.
Then Mom,
she passed away, and she never got to see me ordained.
I lied to my mother.
I disrespected her.
[somber music continues to play]
Anek. Hi!
Anek.
[music swells, fades]
[Anek] I don't know why,
but I… I decided to go down and see him.
He said to me,
"Natthi Sanatiprang Sukang."
[abbot's voice] Natthi Sanatiprang Sukang.
Contentment is the greatest wealth above all.
[pensive, nostalgic music playing]
The abbot would asked me a question…
"What is the duty of a monk? What is a monk's true duty?"
Now,
I know what it is.
What is it then?
[gentle chimes]
There are so many people looking for hope in this world.
The thing that is most suited to give hope to people
is other people.
Especially those who have made mistakes…
and have nowhere to turn.
But eventually, they see a light at the end of the tunnel.
You asked me if I felt anger.
At this time, anger or ignorance serve no purpose at all.
If the world is trying to change us,
it's probably the time to use our skills and our knowledge
to change ourselves…
and to become a beacon of hope for others.
[Anek's voice] The Buddha's tooth. I'd come to the rescue of Buddhism
in a time of crisis.
Okay, if that's what you think, then I'm with you.
Let's see who's the real deal.
[both] Hm.
By the way, when are you going to start?
Haven't you noticed?
I started a while ago now.
[upbeat music playing]
ULTRA PRO SLIMMER LIGHTER
Innovation.
[Atom] I actually simulated the brain waves of parents,
so AI could input artificial memories, in the motherboard.
[Narong] When this model first came out, they flocked to it.
[Atom] All versions of iBuddy have built-in machine learning.
Most of what it remembered were your words.
[abbot speaks Pali]
The only thing that does not change in this world is change itself.
[music peaks, fades]
[female news reporter] Hello, we're at the Dhammanittha Temple
to witness the launch of an exciting new product for Buddhists.
DHAMMANITTHA TEMPLE WELCOMES YOU
[fast-paced, upbeat music playing]
The temple claims that it's going to change the face of Buddhism,
and restore faith in religion and monks among the citizens of our society.
[music continues to play]
[Atom] There's no need to worry, Abbot.
I understand that such a huge event might seem inappropriate.
In this age, it's necessary
to garner attention and to engage with people.
If there are good intentions,
it's a good thing.
You there. Hey.
Can I have two spotlights over here?
[woman] Mr. Neo, why are you attending your competitor's launch?
I don't come here as a competitor or steal the spotlight.
I came to extend my congratulations to Monk Anek.
I've always held him in high regard.
We've had several discussions about Dhamma.
I'm sure everyone here wishes him the best.
[muffled fireworks]
[digital chimes]
[man] What's that? What's that?
[digital chimes]
[catchy music plays, fades]
[grandiose music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[male presenter] And now, please give a round of applause for Monk Anek,
the chief engineer of this project.
[crowd cheering]
[music continues to play]
[groans]
[Anek] I need to thank you, Atom,
for all your support
and your investment in the project.
[Atom] You don't need to thank me.
I, along with all the other investors,
we believe in your vision for the project.
By the way,
what are we gonna name it, venerable sir?
[iBuddy groans]
[groaning, whirring]
Hello, iBuddha.
[synthesized magical music plays]
[male voice] I am iBuddha, your faithful companion.
I have compiled all things related to Buddhism in one place.
If you want to study the Tripitaka,
listen to the Jataka tales,
exercise your brain with Dhamma riddles, say a prayer from a collection
of more than 900 prayers assembled from all the scriptures,
perform religious rituals,
such as alms giving, donations, merit making on your birthday,
you may do all of this from the convenience of your home
via our online system.
No obstacle will stand in the way of your determination to do good.
[crowd murmuring]
Here now is the unique thing about iBuddha.
It is this.
[synthesized gong]
[crowd murmuring]
Greetings, to all my fellow Buddhists.
I am Abbot Udom Jittatanto.
I am honored to act as an intermediary of Dhamma and merit
to guide every individual towards the state of spiritual serenity.
Our iBuddha makes use
of the latest brain wave cloning technology,
the most cutting edge technology of this era.
[tension-building music playing]
It's as if you have the abbot right next to you,
and then he will be the guiding light for your spirituality.
[crowd exclaims]
We will have many more venerable mentors
from all over the country who will join us.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Atom] At the moment, our system is definitely more advanced than ULTRA.
But, to be honest, there's one thing that ULTRA has that we can't compete with.
The Merit Points system.
[music continues to play]
[speaks in Pali]
Contentment is the greatest wealth above all.
[synthesized gong]
Every time you use the system, you will receive points which we call
Jitta.
-[woman] Did he say Jitta? -[man] Jitta.
The more you practice, the more you'll get.
Essentially, it signifies the degree of concentration,
wisdom, and serenity within the users of the system.
More importantly,
the accumulated Jitta points that you get
can exempt you from our monthly service fees.
[suspenseful music continues]
That can be indefinitely.
[crowd cheering]
iBuddha is the only technology
that has brought together
the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha,
as a spiritual linchpin to keep you centered
and avoid the wrong path in our modern world
that's rife with deceit
and misinformation.
[music intensifies]
[crowd cheering]
[music peaks, fades]
[woman] Venerable monk.
[crowd applauding, cheering]
[news theme music plays]
We have breaking news coming in.
I should warn you that there are images and audio in this segment
that some viewers may find distressing.
[female newsreader] A resident noticed a male and female couple
acting suspiciously,
so he notified the police.
Every morning, I see this couple bring out many senior citizens
from the rented room.
[male newsreader] The couple confessed to the authorities
that they would take the senior citizens out
and assist the elderly people in crossing the road on a daily basis
in order to earn Merit Points from ULTRA.
These Merit Points are then exchanged for goods.
To date, these goods have been sold for over 100,000 baht.
So far, ULTRA has not been identified as either a suspect or an accomplice.
It's like a knife. How you use it is a choice.
On the subject of Mr Neo,
it appears that he has been staying well under the radar lately.
As yet, Mr Neo has made no official statement on this matter.
[male newsreader] I see. -Moving on now to ULTRA's competitor.
-Yes. Right. -iBuddha.
-iBuddha… -Okay.
Which was rolled out only two months ago, is reporting booming sales,
and there seems little doubt
that incidents like these have been to their advantage.
[Narong] Very good now! Welcome, come and give it a try.
Please join the line over there. You don't have to wait for a monk anymore.
[monk] It's like you're buying a portable temple.
[classical music playing]
[monk] Sermons and prayer verses are included.
[Narong] Sure.
Get in line, please. get in line.
[music peaks, fades, resumes]
Fellow Buddhists, please, get in line. iBuddha 1.0.
[monk] You can have a Dharma discussion…
[male news reporter] The resident monks, the abbot, and the Sangha Supreme Council
can't help but wear a big smile.
The Sangha Supreme Council even went so far…
-As to release a congratulatory statement. -[female news redear] Precisely.
They praised Monk Anek and the Dhammanittha Temple
for their pioneering innovation and services Buddhism in Thailand.
[female newsreader] The innovation makes Dharma more accessible
to us in this digital age,
where we have an increasing reliance on technology.
The netizens even invented a moniker for Monk Anek.
-Yes. -He's referred to as the Innovative Monk.
Wow! This is truly insane. Look.
The online sales are terrific.
Can I take a selfie with you, venerable sir?
Of course.
One more, please.
-One, two… -[newsreader] Is there a Buddhist moniker?
Yes. Navatobhikkhu.
-Simply put, a Steve-Jobs monk. -[chuckles] Steve-Jobs monk?
How cool is that?
[classical music swelling]
[music peaks, fades]
ORNJIRA SAETIEW 24 FEBRUARY 1959 - 12 MAY 2027
[mechanical whirring]
The thing you once dreamed of…
I've turned this into reality now, Mom.
[Narong] Venerable sir.
[indistinct chatter]
[man] There he is. Monk Anek.
Monk Anek. There he is.
-[man] How did he come to this? -Please calm down.
[man] Monk Anek, how did it come to this?
Are you aware of the iBuddha incident resembling what happened with ULTRA?
[tense music playing]
You filthy monk!
-Hold on. -How dare you do this to my child?
Please, calm down. Let's calm down.
Please, calm down.
Wh-- What exactly happened?
Look.
See? See what you've done?
[abbot over device] Hey, pretty girl.
You there, pretty girl. Come over here. Come here.
Now, lift up your skirt for me.
[music sting]
[tense music playing]
[woman] How could you do this?
You're a monk!
[female reporter] iBuddha sexually harassed an eight-year-old girl.
As its creator, what's your response?
-[man] What do you have to say, sir? -[woman] Do you care to comment, sir?
[man] You can't be silent.
[woman] Other reports of harassment have been filed.
-[man] Is what happened in the clip true? -[woman] Venerable sir, any comments?
[music swells, fades]
[birds chirping]
[abbot] I admit…
that I said that.
I couldn't help myself.
That incident took place 40 years ago.
I was just a teenager then.
I was uninhibited
and reckless.
I'm not going to blame it on alcohol.
I'm the one at fault here.
Well…
It's…
It's probably happened because I cloned his brainwaves.
All of the past and present memory traces of the subjects were gathered
without excluding any transgressions of these participants.
Abbot, it is my oversight.
I have done you wrong and harmed your reputation.
I have also done a wrong to Monk Anek. I'm so terribly sorry, Abbot.
I'm truly sorry.
[sad music playing]
[abbot] Atom, it's not your fault.
The only person to blame
is me.
[music continues to play]
Even though I was punished for what I did,
every action we have carried out
can always come back in the future to haunt us.
Sure, I may be a monk.
But don't forget, I'm just an ordinary monk,
I'm not an enlightened one.
Sir. Abbot, sir.
Are you going out there now?
Those people out there are angry. They've started throwing things.
I'm afraid you may not be safe.
I owe the victims' families an apology.
If hurling things at me is a means they need to vent their grievances,
let them do it.
As long as it appeases them.
The amount of stuff they hurl at me is immaterial.
Those things won't hit their target
since I'm no longer that person.
[music intensifies]
[crowd murmuring]
[man] You piece of shit!
Pervert!
[woman] You're no monk! Get out, you piece of trash!
[music peaks, fades]
[birds chirping]
[female newsreader] A week has gone by
since iBuddha unearthed the deplorable and despicable past
of the abbot of Dhammanittha Temple.
A short while ago, the Sangha Supreme Court took action.
Yes, the council publicly condemned the temple
for its negligence and failure in its screening process.
The statement takes aim at the controversy surrounding the abbot
and the creation of iBuddha.
The Ministry of Technology and the Consumer Protection Board
issued an order to discontinue the service.
Seems it's back to the drawing board,
with respect to the appropriate use of AI and advanced technology,
in the context of Buddhist temples and monks.
[iBuddha] Everything will be ok.
[pensive music playing]
[iBuddy groans]
Thank you.
You've been such a wonderful companion.
But you shouldn't follow me anymore.
I'm just like a blind man.
We should bid farewell here.
[iBuddy groans]
[mechanical whirring]
[music continues to play]
[iBuddy groaning]
[Anek's voice] But this will not feed me,
and it makes me scared.
I must not be attached
to physical things.
[pensive music continues to play]
[soft pop]
[whirring]
[music fades]
[gentle chimes]
[birds chirping]
[music resumes]
-[vocalized triumphant music plays] -[ULTRA] Congratulations.
You've been awarded 20 Merit Points for helping to preserve the environment.
Wasn't it worth 100 points last month?
What the hell?
[ULTRA] Sorry, you've already completed this mission.
[music intensifies]
[traffic robot] It is safe to cross.
It is safe to cross.
It is safe to cross…
Right now is the birth of a new Buddhist era.
There is ULTRA, Super ULTRA,
and ULTRA Pro, as your personal Dharma assistants.
Anytime, anywhere, it assimilates the monk's constitution,
introducing a novel concept that you can have with you at all times.
[vocalized triumphant music plays]
ULTRA.
[music peaks, fades]