SanTo
The SanTO robot has different use cases: It can keep company during prayer, teach catechisms or catechesis, tell the story of the lives of saints, report the Pope’s homilies, cite verses from the Bible or propose a prayer. The robot is designed especially for elderly worshipers. The perception of its sacredness by Catholic believers was measured in a session of experiments performed in a church in Lima, Peru.
Navigating Expectation Disparities in SanTo: The Impact of Divine Presence and Ethical Considerations in Design
Case Number: 0201
Date: 2023.11.21
Author: Gabriele Trovato
Background: Recently, a novel category of robots designed with the end user's religious background in mind has garnered attention in the realm of social robotics. However, it is crucial to distinguish between two types of relationships these robots can have with religion: one can be "embedded," a category we refer to as "theomorphic", while the other may be linked to their application. Robots like SanTO, classified as theomorphic, incorporate religious symbols and is designed to convey religious messages, regardless of whether their application is religious or social (such as providing cognitive support for older adults).
Description of Ethical Issues: Within the Catholic Church, there are varying views on SanTo, with progressivists potentially embracing technological innovation in faith, while conservatives may maintain a more cautious stance. However, this assumption might not hold true in all cases. Conservatives, rooted in established rituals, may see robotic repetition of rituals as a means to strengthen devotional practices, making it a powerful tool for their cause. On the contrary, progressivists may lean towards encouraging believers to think independently and seek education, possibly preferring robots that pose questions rather than providing predefined answers. The ethical considerations, therefore, should respect the diverse perspectives within religious communities and adhere to ethical guidelines while promoting technological innovation for the greater good.
This may give rise to a typical disparity in expectations often associated with social robots. However, this potential issue was somewhat alleviated by the inclusion of the divine. From an ethical standpoint, designing social robots with a divine presence may be perceived as deceptive, yet it is seen as a necessary compromise to enhance engagement in religious activities. While there is a possibility that these robots might be recognized as 'Gods,' akin to a cargo cult scenario, we believe such occurrences would be rare. Nevertheless, we maintain an open-minded approach to finding the best ways to mitigate this possibility during the design process and are prepared to seek guidance from religious authorities when necessary.
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