Chapter 67: A Brand New Era
Chapter 67: A Brand New Era
“The Huaxin News Agency is authorized to release news.”
“Recently, led by Artificial Intelligence scholar and Researcher Qin Yu of our country, a major breakthrough has been achieved in the Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Machinery field.”
“The breakthrough in the Intelligent Machinery field holds epoch-making significance.”
“The Artificial Intelligence research project led by Researcher Qin Yu has resulted in an Intelligent Program capable of independently completing complex command tasks and long-term missions, characterized by its versatility not limited to a single piece of Intelligent Machinery.”
“Thanks to this major breakthrough, Intelligent Machinery such as Bipedal Robots will enter our production and daily lives extensively.”
“At that time, unmanned intelligent factories across numerous industries and fields, as well as companion and elderly care robots in daily life, will see widespread popularization.”
“This marks the imminent entry of our nation into a brand new Intelligent Era, the era of Artificial Intelligence universalization.”
“Below is the video record of the first application test of the Intelligent Program completed by the research team led by Researcher Qin Yu…”
For the general public,
the exact scale of the major breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence reported by the Huaxin News Agency wasn’t immediately clear,
but the historic image material released alongside the report spoke volumes.
In the video footage, the level of intelligence and smoothness of reaction displayed by that Bipedal Robot,
even though most people didn’t understand its underlying principles, was enough to spark much imagination and deeply understand what the report meant by “epoch-making significance.”
The short video contained a staggering amount of information. Its content provided ample space for imagination for the vast majority of people.
The repercussions from the report were naturally explosive.
However, while many people were momentarily stunned by the report’s contents,
some found their attention drifting because of a name mentioned in the report, one that felt deeply familiar to most.
“Professor Qin Yu? Wait, is Professor Qin Yu brought back to life?”
“Did I time travel? Is this still the year 262? I think I’m hallucinating, I saw Professor Qin Yu announcing a new research achievement again?”
“Is it right for you to say that? This is clearly not the same person… but then again, Researcher Qin Yu and Professor Qin Yu seem equally impressive.”
“Whoa, is the Intelligent Era really coming like this? Hang on… does the name ‘Qin Yu’ have some special significance? If I change my name to ‘Qin Yu’, does that mean I’ll become super awesome too?”
“Wake up, it’s the person who’s awesome, not the name.”
Soon, after the vast majority recovered from the explosive news,
people stopped dwelling on the name.
Many people, somewhat dazed, replayed the short video a couple of times,
and finally seemed to grasp what had happened, then became extremely excited.
“Did you see that? Wow! The moment the Intelligent Program 012 started up there, that robot really did look like it came alive. Covering its head? I couldn’t believe it, it seemed more human than me!”
“So that’s what it is! That’s why the retirement age is being pushed forward! Now I get it. I thought the 2611 Longevity Injection was losing effectiveness, I was terrified.”
“Can someone explain more? What does this really mean?”
“It means most of us will be replaced by Robots and Intelligent Machinery. Apart from creative work, the vast majority of jobs from now on will be done by Robots and Intelligent Machinery.”
“But you don’t need to worry. The huge surge in productivity in the Intelligent Era is enough to cover everyone’s needs. No one will starve, relax. Our nation isn’t heading towards Cyberpunk.”
“You folks outside the field probably can’t appreciate how incredible this Intelligent Program developed by Researcher Qin Yu’s team is. According to the video, this program wasn’t pre-trained specifically for that task. Do you know what that means? It means that under the control of 012, that robot can do anything, as long as the hardware can handle it!”
“No need to tell me. Even though I’m not a pro, I could see how amazing it was. When it answered saying it should have passed the test? My skin totally crawled with goosebumps!”
“Guys, does this mean I can have a genuine Robot wife?”
“Dude, come on, get some ambition! The biggest application for this is industrial production! On Earth, it means an explosion in industrial productivity. On the Lunar Surface, it means our Lunar Base will expand way faster – the stars and the ocean await! And you’re thinking about your robot wife?… Actually, that doesn’t sound bad. I might want one too.”
“And smart car driving… if this Intelligent Program can be used on a Bipedal Robot, putting it into smart cars will be even simpler… I can already picture the Intelligent Era.”
“Unmanned factories. From the very top of the supply chain, raw material exploitation and refining, right down to the final product output. From the primary sector to the secondary sector, even the tertiary sector – all achieving a high degree of unmanned operations.”
“Right now, that Bipedal Robot is the body for the Intelligent Program. Put it in a smart factory, and every piece of production equipment in that factory can become its body, mobilized by it.”
“When that happens, plus the Bipedal Robots roaming everywhere… it’ll be invincible, friends!”
“Listening to you makes me think I’ll just lie flat. If we won’t need much human labor later, and with all this abundant productivity so I won’t starve, I can just give up now.”
“Huh? Friend! The value of Intelligent Machinery is to free you from heavy, repetitive manual labor. Plentiful productivity means you won’t have to worry about survival itself. It lets you feel true freedom, lets you pursue self-actualization. And you want to give up?”
Online,
in almost an instant, countless people were discussing the matter.
It had been a very ordinary, commonplace day,
but the sudden, enormous breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence had obviously given everyone a massive surprise.
Beyond the Huaxin News Agency, major mainstream media immediately reposted the report.
Other media outlets quickly followed suit, and countless people spontaneously spread the message.
The vast majority barely had time to react.
Relevant hashtags had already appeared on the trending lists of nearly all social media platforms.
Topping the list was basically “Major Artificial Intelligence Breakthrough”.
Second place was “Qin Yu”.
Further down were topics like “Arrival of Intelligent Era”, “Liberation of Productivity”, “Unmanned Production”, and other related topics.
At this very moment, it was hard to find trending topics unrelated to this news on any major platform.
People who encountered this news completely unprepared, suddenly popping up in every corner of the entire online world,
were mostly swept up in the excitement very quickly.
From the internet to the real world,
at this historic moment, the entire world became unusually lively because of it.
The Huaxin News Agency then
timely released another piece of information.
That Senior Leader, whom Qin Yu had met a few times, was about to go on live television.
Of course,
everyone knew the live broadcast right now was about the breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence technology.
…
“…Ladies, gentlemen, friends, fellow compatriots.”
“I believe today, you have all received the great news about a major breakthrough in the field of Artificial Intelligence technology research.”
“Here, I have some matters I’d like to talk to you about.”
Half an hour later, the live television broadcast began.
People who had received the notice early naturally tuned in through various means.
Everyone knew that the significant breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence technology would trigger huge transformations across multiple sectors of society.
The words spoken at this historic moment to everyone would, to a large extent, represent the future direction of the Huaxia Nation, and even Human Civilization.
Besides the Senior Leader, Qin Yu was also present.
However, the breakthrough of the Intelligent Program 012 had already been announced in advance by the Huaxin News Agency.
Therefore, Qin Yu didn’t need to say much during this broadcast.
The reason he still needed to be here was more for just making an appearance.
At this historic moment made possible by Qin Yu, it is only fitting to show respect to Qin Yu.
“First, we must express our gratitude. We thank Researcher Qin Yu for leading and guiding the research team to achieve this major breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence technology.”
“This breakthrough holds significant historical importance and is the very foundation for the discussions we are having here today.”
The Senior Leader turned his head and nodded respectfully in Qin Yu’s direction.
Qin Yu smiled but said nothing.
Those watching the live broadcast naturally noticed Qin Yu.
Because the subtitle accompanying his image clearly stated his name,
everyone understood perfectly well that Qin Yu was the lead behind this Artificial Intelligence breakthrough.
Seeing the same name but a face that, while also young, was different,
many people felt a flicker of subconscious disappointment.
But they quickly caught themselves. Though Researcher Qin Yu worked in a different field from Professor Qin Yu,
wasn’t he just as incredible?
And so young too!
“…Friends, right here and now, thanks to the enormous breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence, we can clearly perceive,”
“a new era beckoning to us, striding purposefully towards us.”
The Senior Leader turned back towards the camera and continued,
“In the future, many of us will be free from heavy labor. In the future, automation will become the norm in production across all sectors.”
“In the Social Upbringing Bureau, caregiver robots will look after children nurtured in Human Reproduction Devices, and companion robots will care for our elderly citizens who have retired.”
“Our productivity will experience massive liberation and growth. The initiative of Collective Social Rearing will receive its final, crucial piece.”
“Intelligent Machinery will follow planting schedules, working on lands reclaimed from the desert through soil improvement efforts by our previous generation’s projects, carrying out the entire process of planting, irrigating, and harvesting crops.”
“Production equipment within automated factories will process minerals extracted and refined by other smart machines into the everyday products we need.”
“Drones, intelligent logistics equipment, all under the control of AI programs, will deliver the products you require right to your doorstep.”
“Undoubtedly, that will be a wonderful world, a world of greater material abundance and productivity. In that beautiful world, that beautiful era, we will live better lives.”
“However, from this moment, before we reach that world, we may need to navigate many transformations.”
“To meet these changes, we will be introducing several new initiatives.”
The Senior Leader paused briefly before listing important points.
“First, we will support and accelerate the production and R&D of Intelligent Machinery and various intelligent robot hardware, to meet the diverse demands across different sectors for these smart mechanical components.”
“The Intelligent Program developed by Researcher Qin Yu and his team will be licensed out for use by intelligent equipment across different fields.”
“Second, to facilitate the widespread adoption and use of AI programs, and to handle the upcoming surge in computing needs, we plan to construct new, large-scale Computing Power Centers in various cities across Huaxia Nation. Concurrently, we will support R&D into new Computing Power Technology.”
“Third, to address some of the derivative issues arising from the large-scale use of Intelligent Machinery, we will gradually phase in a reduction of the retirement age over the next five years. We aim to shift it from the current 140 years old to under 100 years old. Furthermore, we will open opportunities and support universities in providing retraining programs. Basic financial assistance will be provided to those who choose to return to school for this retraining.”
The Artificial Intelligence breakthrough, propelling human civilization into the Intelligent Era, brought with it a single major challenge:
AI would replace some human jobs.
Huaxia Nation’s chosen approach was fairly straightforward:
to directly address the issue with generous social welfare.
As long as this generous welfare covered the basic needs of those freed from repetitive labor,
then, in the truest sense, it wouldn’t be AI taking jobs but rather liberating people from heavy work.
Crucially, the surge in productivity enabled by the AI breakthrough could support this high level of welfare.
Naturally, those hearing this initiative burst into loud cheers.
It meant that nearly everyone could benefit, within the shortest possible time, from the positive outcomes of increased productivity, without excessive worry about being left behind by the tide of change.
“…Friends, what I have announced here today is only the beginning. More related policies will be revealed and implemented later.”
“But trust in this: a beautiful era awaits us. All our efforts now must focus on bringing that beautiful era to us sooner.”
“Friends, keep your hearts full of anticipation for this splendid new era!”
The Senior Leader’s voice grew noticeably more impassioned at the end.
Though weathered by experience and intrinsically composed,
even he couldn’t help but feel stirred after delivering these words.
And if the Senior Leader felt stirred, the multitude watching the live broadcast felt it exponentially more.
Cheers continued to echo across Huaxia Nation.
The livestream concluded at this point.
After standing up, the Senior Leader shook hands once more with Qin Yu,
“Though I’ve said it before, allow me to say it again. Researcher Qin, we all owe you our deepest gratitude.”
“This is simply my field of research, my line of work. It just happens that we achieved some results,” Qin Yu replied with a shake of his head and a smile.
For Qin Yu, he was merely pursuing the work he wanted to do.
Occasionally, he did find it somewhat mesmerizing that the entire world seemed to be dancing to his tune.
But perhaps his own aspirations had always been vast, so he wasn’t exceptionally excited.
…
The buzz generated by the major AI breakthrough certainly didn’t end with the live broadcast.
It was just starting.
The definitive statements made by the Senior Leader during the telecast helped alleviate some of the uncertainty about the future within Huaxia Nation.
As people anticipated the dawn of an entirely new Intelligent Era, they could also feel excitement and enthusiasm more unambiguously.
Many people were no longer content merely discussing it online.
Even during the lunch hour, in restaurants, eateries, and shopping malls – any place with people – celebrations began to break out.