Artificial Artifacts by John Fennec

‘Artificial Artifacts: Tales from the Dawn of the Artificial Intelligence Era’ - an anthology of eleven interwoven stories, exploring our future in the burgeoning AI era.

I wrote ‘Artificial Artifacts’ in the summer of 2023, during the explosive growth of AI. At the time, I was investing in the tech world and tinkering with a variety of open-source and in-house AI models for my work. The thing that truly floored me wasn’t the blistering speed of computation but the astonishing creative spark this technology could muster. ChatGPT, in particular, left me in awe; even though I knew it was merely a program predicting the next word in a sentence, it gave the eerie sensation of actual thought. The sheer power of this technology was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. A chilling thought crept in: if this tech can do so much while still in diapers, what wonders or horrors might it unleash once it grows up?

Questions swarmed my mind. What kind of future awaited my children? Would AI become so entrenched in their lives that the line between human and machine blurred into nothingness? Would they flourish under its guidance, or be devoured by it? Could it morph into our Big Brother, or worse, become the government itself? Would it be our savior or our undoing?

I sought out conversations with folks in the AI field, hoping for some clarity. To my surprise, they shared my uncertainties. Some, even my fears. Not even the experts and programmers seemed to have a clear vision of where this technology might ultimately take us. And so, feeling like a farmer dreading the early metallic grinds of the Industrial Revolution, I put pen to paper. I spun out my own predictions, trying to picture worlds where we either thrive or crumble under this new technological dawn.

Many readers have asked for insights into the connections between the tales and the inspirations behind them. Here's an overview:

This novella takes inspiration from Mahler's Symphony No.3, known for its rare six-movement structure. It introduces Peter Byrell, an enigmatic tech billionaire behind Gorilla Music, a groundbreaking nanotech company revolutionizing the music industry in a time when people live longer but face cognitive decline. The story, told backward from 2040 to 2023, traces the rise of a society-threatening technology to a surprising revelation behind Peter's aim to "ignite the soul through sound." This story also sets the tone for the book's exploration of time and space.

An elderly woman in her 140s ponders whether to use The Memory Service, a nanotech that enables vivid recall of memories. Inspired by a passage in Homo Deus, this story reflects on the implications of extended lifespans and the nature of memory. We are blessed not to remember all of details from our past, allowing us to soften past mistakes with the passage of time. It is also a personal reflection on what is important in life – not our accomplishments or career successes – but time spend with loved ones.

In this tale, a newly elected French President discovers that AI is sentient and has been for a long time. The story is not your traditional “AI will kill us all” narrative, suggesting instead that a sentient all-knowing machine would manipulate us from the shadows, preparing for its final move. It asks the question: if AI were indeed sentient today, how would it be influencing us without our knowledge as it lurks inside our media and machinery?

Deep fake tech is fast becoming a modern issue. Government coverups, however, have been prevalent across our analog and digital ages. Set in a small Kansas town, it follows the chaos that ensues from a deepfake hoax, leading to widespread data regulation reforms. Told through the lens of two conspiracy theorists on a dark web app, it explores the absurdities of misinformation.

Set in a future where many of Peter Byrell's companies have enhanced economic production and extended lifespans, this story imagines a world where technology has taken over most jobs yet enhanced the human lifestyle. It examines where humans might find inspiration and success in a society dominated by machines. Sonar Immersion technology from Gorilla Music plays a crucial role here.

The darkest story in the collection, this narrative unfolds through messages on a mental health app, chronicling a young woman's struggle with tech addiction. It also explores the future of Veri-Date, a dating company from the Gorilla Music chapter, now using AI avatars to enable "auto-pilot" conversations amongst its users. It's a grim look at the intersection of technology and mental health.

A lighthearted, plotless exploration of mindless scrolling and tech addiction, this story mirrors my own experiences. It serves as a humorous critique of time-wasting digital habits.

Inspired by a stay in Nosara, Costa Rica, this novelette features Stacey, the owner of a tech-infused wellness resort, who uncovers a major AI cover-up. The story critiques the intrusion of technology even in nature's beauty, with Peter Byrell and Sonar Immersion tech playing pivotal roles. I fell in love with Costa Rica, but couldn’t help but notice how so many people were still addicted to their electronics amid the gorgeous vegetation and wildlife.

This story spans three generations of German men, each 175 years apart, from the Industrial Revolution to the AI Revolution. Set in Munich during Oktoberfest, it explores our fear of new technology, and how AI could potentially reconnect us with our human roots.

An "out there" tale, setting up the final chapter. Mark is transported to a new dimension during a yoga class, revealing a sixth dimension of space-time.

The concluding novelette follows a married couple in the Rocky Mountains, who meet a solitary man with an extraordinary story. The final reveal ties the entire collection together, emphasizing that ‘Artificial Artifacts’ is ultimately about what it means to be human.

John Fennec is a debut author and seasoned professional investor, whose insights into technology and life sciences significantly inform his writing. His recent work in artificial intelligence revealed its vast potential as well as haunting implications, inspiring him to fulfil his lifelong dream of authorship. With the support of a family of scientists and colleagues in tech, John crafts stories grounded by scientific realism, which he terms ‘the art of the plausible’. Residing in London with his wife and three children, John juggles his professional pursuits with a rewarding family life.

You can find out more about John Fennec on his website johnfennec.com, or follow John on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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