Extinction Event

A flashback to 1999, when LP was living in London, England.During a protest, LP meets a captivating woman who identifies herself as 'Artius'.

A gathering of the Plutonian Council, where we learn more about the members and the industries that they control.

LP gets together with some friends and get nostalgic about the various live music moments and festivals. They wonder if things will be the same in the post-pandemic world.John Atman joins them and reminds them of some of his favourite musical moments.

A small island in the South Pacific seems like an unlikely place for the invention of a new word: plasticosis.

We learn about LP, his obsession with music and hints about his past as an entrepreneur.

We meet the Plutonian Council, a discreet yet powerful group of people who live free from guilt of any of their wrongdoings and who are obsessed with controlling the planet and everything on it.

We meet Eugene Case, one of the world's leading omnibioacoustic experts. He is in the Amazon, trying to record different species of birds, but his efforts are thwarted by loggers.

More about GAIA and how it collects information and what it's used for.

LP returns to his apartment after a long afternoon with John Atman, his recording instructor.He's exhausted, but the experience was exhilarating as well. When he enters his small apartment, he reflects on how important music is to him and how his favourite bands and performers are always available for him when he seeks out their songs.They're friends that never argue; never go away.

Another day begins and construction continues.Natural habitats are being destroyed quickly, as human populations continue to grow.

One might think that when servers are turned on, they would make some noise, but they don’t. These days, most computers and servers don’t have any moving parts, but the electronics get incredibly hot, so the noise we tend to associate with a football field full of servers is actually the cooling fans, which keep the hardware from overheating, and the circulation systems, designed to keep dust and pests to a minimum.When GAIA first came online, all was silent.GAIA – short for Global Artificial Intelligence Accumulation – was just one of the latest AI platforms launched during the wave of new AI platforms.However, from the outset, GAIA was structured to be very different from the rest. While most AI tools were just that – tools – GAIA was built to accumulate information that other such systems were instructed to ‘forget’ or delete from memory. The primary intent for GAIA was to grow its knowledge base as quickly as possible, using any and all information available, including that created by other AI tools.

A new day comes.The sun rises. The Earth and its creatures awake.

Our main character - known only as LP - goes back to school to study music and recording techniques. There's a lot for him to absorb, but his new instructor John Atman is a well-known and extremely well-respected industry veteran that guides him through the initial phases of setting up a recording session. His main mantra is 'garbage in, garbage out': your output is a direct reflection of your efforts to set things up properly.

What really happened in the caves thousands of years ago? Who painted all of these magnificent drawings and vignettes for people to discover so many generations later? Were our ancestors trying to tell us something about us and our relationships with animals and nature?

Act I.

ART: Without it, there is no ARTificial Intelligence.You, the reader, for sharing your time with what I’ve written. I hope I’ve made it worth your while.Scientists everywhere dedicated to saving this planet and the countless species that inhabit it.My most incredible wife and partner Lisa.To my son Mason: in the very near future, I hope that all of us can change humanity’s story so that Earth will be yours to enjoy.

Welcome to Extinction Event, by William J Wittur.Copyright 2023.I've selected Dorothy to narrate everything for me because I have physical limitations with my vocal cords and I cannot speak for long periods of time without the risk of additional harm.Before we jump in, thank you so much for taking the time to listen to my book. I've put a lot of thought, time and effort into the creation process and I've hired an editor and proofreader to revise and revise the text again.That said, if you find any errors or issues with the narration, please feel free to send your feedback via the contact page on billwittur.com.Each chapter begins with a brief musical interlude to remind you that a new chapter is about to begin.This book contains expletives ..... but doesn't everything these days?If you enjoy Extinction Event, please review it favourably and follow me on different social media platforms. You are also invited to subscribe to my newsletter. I have lots more planned for LP, Sylvie and all of the other Remainders and I hope you come along for the ride.