The Robot Priest

[Maxmars]

[clipped to save space]

You make a strong and salient point.  There is quite a difference between how people react to this kind of thing... and it seems well-demonstrated by the manner of 'reporting' between your source materials.  On the one hand, I would like to remain 'clinically detached' when discussing the disconnect between the use of a language synthesis model in a mechanical avatar, and the generally spiritual intent of its sponsor.  It's a rough gig.  Clearly some would have an almost Victorian prejudice against a "machine man" expounding on what some might consider a matter of 'faith' (I grant you Buddhism is not really a 'religion' as I understand it, but I hope you get my gist.)  Others who have been drilled with acquiescence toward the application of new technology might simply adopt a "wait and see" approach. 
 
I noticed the Eastern culture reporting opens with a narrative which seems to invite the information with patient grace, while the Western reporting seems to be a sounding of alarm, almost invoking distress.  Presumably, we might be a bit less surprised that some casual information consumers are going to resonate with the manner of delivery of the news they receive.  It's telling really, in my opinion.

I still marvel at the misapprehensions about these things.  For now, it is a device.  And one can only hope that it is clear the actual 'object' is not some kind of Boddhisattva evolved as a living machine... it is just a 'product' of human enterprise.  Sadly, I can envision the possibility that some might want to romanticize the thing... (meaning Hollywood, marketeers, and other for-profit proselytizers and their ilk.)  That cannot be a good thing, in and of itself.

I think there is a connected discussion available here about juxtaposition of this technology, and the manner in which we decide to implement it... but I respect the thread topic as it is... and I really don't want to dilute the discussion.