Paul McLean

Paul McLean lives in Melbourne, Australia, and has always been an early adopter of new technology. He purchased his first computer (a Sharp MZ80B) in 1979, sparking a lifelong fascination with the intersection of computing and the human mind. This pioneering curiosity led him to a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Instrumental Science in 1987 and, more recently, a Bachelor of Psychological Science with a Nutrition Major in 2024.

The Companion’s Whisper is Paul’s debut novel, inspired by his love of dystopian and psychological fiction, and the rapid evolution of AI-powered chatbots as companions. A chance conversation with ChatGPT sparked the book during a walk with his partner and their Maltese Poodle, which revealed just how much AI can “connect the dots” in our lives. That experience led him to begin writing the novel that same day.