Luis Gonzales Miranda

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú

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About

Luis Gonzales Miranda is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics and religious studies, exploring how sacred technologies reshape human spirituality. His most notable contribution is the development of SanTO, the world’s first Catholic robot, and its successor SanTO-PL—an animated statue resembling a Catholic saint designed for interactive devotion. This work, detailed in his highly cited 2023 paper “SanTO in exhibition – a sacred robot in the profane,” has garnered 3 citations and sparked global discourse on the role of artificial agents in religious contexts. By placing a sacred robot in profane exhibition spaces, Miranda challenges traditional boundaries between faith and technology, probing how robots can mediate prayer, companionship, and ritual. His research is foundational to the emerging field of robot religion, demonstrating that robots are not merely tools but potential participants in spiritual life. Miranda’s work has been featured in international media and academic conferences, establishing him as a leading voice on the ethical and theological implications of robotic presence in sacred spaces. For students and researchers, his studies offer a provocative lens on how technology redefines what it means to be human and divine.