Exploring AI with Virtual Vance and Mr. Rutherford

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In this episode, things get interesting as the team introduces Virtual Vance—a quirky AI persona that quickly spirals out of control. Thankfully, the real Mr. Vance Rutherford, Technology Director at CCS, joins the conversation to provide valuable insight into the world of generative AI.

⏱️ Timestamps:

•00:51– Introducing Virtual Vance

•04:56 - Virtual Vance gets out of hand

•05:58– Introducing Mr. Vance Rutherford, CCS Technology Director

•08:34 – Mr. Rutherford discusses the helpful aspects of generative AI

•23:13 – The group discusses the possible challenges of generative AI

•31:06 – Tom discusses Godly  wisdom regarding this subject

•35:20 – Final thoughts 

🔗 Useful Links:

•GCE on Facebook

•GCE on Spotify

🚨Additional Episode Note:

Generative Artificial Intelligence is a complex and, for some, disturbing topic. Visions of a dystopian future gleaned from sci-fi movies, books, and art come racing to mind—and that can be disconcerting.

In this episode, Kelly and I interact with an artificially generated form of our Tech Director, Vance Rutherford. In the show, we refer to the AI figure as “Virtual Vance,” but it is not virtual in the sense of a Zoom call. The figure was generated by AI using a one-minute video of Vance reciting a script that Vance wrote.

Those viewers who have not interacted with this form of AI may be surprised to see what AI is capable of. And some, with good reason, will be deeply concerned about what the future of AI may bring, and what role it will play at CCS.

Spoiler alert: “Virtual Vance” will not be teaching at CCS!

Yet AI is increasingly ubiquitous in our world, including the world of learning and work, and therefore, like all important and relevant things, CCS must be about the business of shaping a truly biblical worldview of generative technology.

While ably discerning and critiquing the errant perspectives of culture (including aspects of generative technology), we at CCS strive to focus on opportunity, rooted in the settled hope that God is with us, our identity is secure in Him, the Word is true, and the Spirit is personally active—and in the end, “all will be made right” in the new heavens and the new earth that await believers at the end of the age. This creates a world of possibilities and allows us to live out the Gospel with health even in the midst of great challenges and disruptive change.

Finally, we encourage you to watch (or listen to) the whole episode; in the second half, we unpack the pros and cons and do not shy away from the complexities of this issue.

Yet, as is our habit, in the end we return to the main point: Jesus Christ is LORD of all—even over scientific and technological advancement.

And He is where our hope is found.

Thank you for sharing this journey with us!

Tom & Kelly

Produced by Vance Rutherford