Title:
“Babel.exe: An Ancient Mirror for the Age of AI”
Reading:
Genesis 11:1-9
Talk Overview:
This presentation is an accessible, gospel centred apologetics talk aimed at Christians and spiritually curious people who are trying to make sense of the AI conversation without either panic or hype. The goal is to clarify what AI is and is not, especially by distinguishing current narrow AI from more speculative ideas like artificial general intelligence and superintelligence, and then to show that the deeper issue is not merely technological but theological. I’ll use the image of “two towers” (the modern Tower of AI and the ancient Tower of Babel) to argue that while the technology is new, the human impulse behind it is ancient: our desire to make a name for ourselves, transcend our limits, and save ourselves without God. So, the agenda is not to demonise technology, but to expose the beliefs and hopes we often load onto it, and then to hold out Jesus as the true answer to our fears, ambitions, and longing for life beyond death. The message lands invitationally, asking people not simply “What can AI do?” but “What tower am I building my hope on?”
Dave’s Bio:
Dave was born and raised in rural New South Wales, surrounded by open paddocks and small-town life. University was where his Christian faith came alive—not in a single moment, but slowly, as big questions met honest answers and Jesus became less of a “good idea” and more the Person he could trust with his life.
He spent 14 years working as an engineer in the defence and aerospace industry, beginning in ground-based telecommunications and later moving into aeronautics and large-scale program management.
In 2023 he concluded his engineering career as the Program Manager for the F-35 Training Systems Support Program with Lockheed Martin. It was meaningful work, but over the years a deeper call grew: a desire to help people make sense of life, faith, doubt, and Jesus. That led Dave, during his engineering career, into further postgraduate study in Christian apologetics, philosophy, and theology, including time in the UK at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.
For the past two years, Dave has served with Questioning Christianity (QC), speaking in schools, churches, universities, pubs, conferences, and community settings across Australia. QC exists to connect the Christian Story to life’s deepest questions, and Dave’s writing and teaching aim to make the Christian faith both intellectually credible and deeply human. He has contributed to several apologetics books, hosts a short apologetics segment on radio, and also serves as a Teaching Pastor at his local church.
When he’s not speaking, writing or travelling, Dave’s greatest joy is spending time with his wife and children—camping, working in the yard, or simply lounging around with a good book. That’s where he feels most grounded, grateful, and alive.