Chapter 142: Phantom Plan (22)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In a conference room at a certain building in Los Angeles in the States.
Ian was sitting face to face with two Caucasian men and two of Asian descent.
“Do you know the consequences?” a forty some Caucasian man who was sitting in the middle glared at Ian with a fierce expression.
Ian received criticism immediately after he replaced Lu Jia’er’s memory. It was inevitable that he had to face condemnation directly during this trip back to the States. Ian had been prepared mentally. “Yes!”
“All of the previous efforts in Project Ghost will go down the drain because of you!” the Caucasian man looked into Ian’s eyes.
Ian replied. “I am willing to bear all the consequences.”
“I am afraid you cannot!” fury was all over the Caucasian man’s face.
“I am willing to make amends!” Ian said.
“It is too late” was the Caucasian’s answer.
“I am sorry. I was seized with a sudden impulse!” Ian apologized.
“The Professor devoted decades! Our work of years has been wasted just because of your sudden impulse!” the Caucasian man put on a sour look.
“I am willing to shoulder all responsibilities!” Ian did not even try to defend himself.
“You will receive decisions about penalties in your email at three this afternoon!” the Caucasian man announced.
“Okay.” Ian answered.
“Get your face out of here!” said the Caucasian man.
The meeting was adjourned. The Caucasian man was the only one in the conference room now.
A VR screen with an image of a senior with white hair on a crutch rose up from the center of the roundtable in the conference room.
“Professor!” Michael greeted the white-haired senior who showed up on the screen with respect.
“What’s done is done. It would be better if we changed the Phantom Plan!” on the screen, the senior spoke solemnly.
“Professor, you have developed new ideas, right?” Michael asked.
“Ian’s action was detrimental to us. That being said, I had a new discovery due to this incident!” the old man said.
“Are you saying awakening of conscious memory?” Michael asked
“Yes. Ian has changed her memory, which was unauthorized. But her own conscious memory has started to awaken! That is a delightful discovery!” the old man smiled.
“Awakening of conscious memory is risky! And we cannot estimate the danger coefficient!” Michael said.
“Risk presents opportunities!” the senior replied.
“So, Professor, are you saying that we do not need to repair the memory program constantly?” Michael asked.
“No. Let her self-awareness awaken to a further extent!” the senior answered.
“Yes!” Michael replied with respect. “Then do we need to restore her ability to mind-read?”
“Her current knowledge reserve is enough for her to deal with her work!” said the old man.
“Okay. If so, I will keep her program in the current replaced state for the moment.” Michael replied.
In a meeting room at the BUA Building in City B.
The light was dim in the meeting room. On the screen in the front wall, a movie was being played.
After the viewing was over, people clapped. The light was turned on.
“The story is fantastic!” Yan Zheng thought highly of the movie that was played.
“It is flawless!” Cai He never stopped clapping.
Everyone here seemed to be thrilled, proud. The reason was that the highlight of this movie was that the screenwriter was an AI, the producer was AI, the editor and the music composer were both AI. It was suffice to say that it was a complete 90-minute movie produced entirely by AI.
As a matter of fact, using AI to produce movies had been started years ago. Back then, many people questioned AI’s ability regarding artistic creation. With the development of technology, AI had overturned people’s view again and again.
This 90-minute movie featured tight-knit plot, beautiful background music and excellent performances. It was terrific. For those that didn’t know this was produced by AI, this movie would appear to be nothing different from the movies directed by internationally famous directors.
Previously, many people held that AI technology could copy the style of certain directors but there could be no innovative directing. However, the movie that was played just now was a contradiction of that view.
Jin Xiangdong looked at the viewers here. He should be happy with such a momentous achievement. If it were the past, he could declare that this represented the highest level of AI and that BUA Technology possessed leading-edge technology. However, at the moment, the delight in him was not that intense because he had seen more advanced AI.
“Ace, aren’t you satisfied with the movie?” Doctor Li asked, noticing Jin Xiangdong’s expression.
Jin Xiangdong came back to his senses. “Yes, I am!”
Jason threw Jin Xiangdong a glance. Of all the people present here, he might be the only one that could tell what Jin Xiangdong was thinking. Behind an able man there are always other able men.
“That part in the middle made me cry. I say this film can be nominated for an Oscar Award!” Li Zheng said.
“Seconded!” Cai He agreed with Li Zheng.
“We will see how the public showing turns out to be.” Jin Xiangdong replied.
“The public showing is going to be popular!” Li Zheng seemed to be pretty confident.
Jin Xiangdong would not deny that the movie shown was of high quality. Besides, the fact that the movie was produced by AI alone could generate quite a buzz. It was just that he was more focused on the tech.
Previously, he would believe that the technology he used was superb. But Lu Jia’er showed him that there were more powerful AI. She was no different from the public. That tech made him feel inferior and he longed to investigate and explore.
“I believe that many people will condemn AI after the public showing.” Cai He voiced his view.
“That is natural. If you just look at the movie, you will not figure out that it is made by an AI. I suppose many professionals in the movie industry will claim that we have stolen their job!” Li Zheng raised his eyebrows in pride.
“I don’t think our creation is an effort to steal their jobs. We are bringing benefits to the human kind. In the present day, we have so many shoddy TV series and films. I haven’t the slightest desire to turn on TV because I am afraid they will defile my eyes!” Cai He added.
“That being said, in many people’s minds, the increasingly stronger AI can incur fear!” Li Zheng said.
Jin Xiangdong joined Li Zheng and Cai He’s conversation, “The technology we have now is not that powerful!”
Li Zheng could not help but laugh. “Ace, you are always there to urge us on every time we have made some accomplishments!”
People burst into laughter. Jin Xiangdong did not reply to that. He only said, “Thank you all!” Then, he left the meeting room.
Li Zheng looked at others. “Do you think there is something strange with Ace lately?”
“Yes, there is!” Cai He wobbled on his seat.
“I think it is most likely that his relationship is over!” Li Zheng offered his speculation.
“Wasn’t everything good between him and Professor Lu half a month ago?” Professor Li asked.
“I have my reasons. Professor Lu terminated her contract all of a sudden and following that, Ace has been out of form!” Li Zheng said.
Jason cast a glance at Li Zheng. “I told you. Less gossip, more work!”
“Jason, fine, I know you are able to keep a secret. But we are not fools!” Li Zheng retorted.
“I will ask Professor Lu later!” Professor Li said.
Jason hurried to stop him. “Don’t you ask about this. It is embarrassing!”
“See, I am right. But why did they break up? Tell us.” Li Zheng was bursting with the desire of gossip.
“Stop with the chit chat. Outsiders should not meddle with others’ relationships!” with that said, Jason stood up and left.
He went back to his seat. Jason received a WeChat message from Su Han. “Are you free tonight? How about we go to the movies together?”
Jason stared at the screen and typed the following words, “Which one?”
A moment later, a message showed up on the screen. “The Sci-fi movie that was released a couple of days ago!”
“Okay. I will go and buy tickets!” Jason replied.
Then he saw a heart emoji on the screen.
Looking at the heart emoji on the screen, Jason became absent-minded. Who could tell that Su Han, who was chatting with him, was an AI?
Besides, Jason found it hard to accept that Jin Xiangdong wanted to win Lu Jia’er back. A human dating an AI was unethical. This kind of act ahead of the times would not be acceptable. To make it worse, it could be dangerous.
That being said, both Jason and Jin Xiangdong were eager to learn about the creator of Lu Jia’er and Su Han. For this reason, while there was a mental barrier, Jason had started to contact Su Han again.
Naturally, they would have to learn and study now that there was more powerful AI in the world and that they had found out about it.
Jason booked the movie tickets and messaged Su Han the address and the verification code.
Seconds later, he saw Su Han’s reply. “Why did you buy three tickets?”
“Bring Professor Lu along.” Jason replied.
“You don’t mind that?” Su Han asked.
“I have bought the tickets. Of course, I do not mind.” Jason responded.
“Then let me ask her if she is willing to be our third wheel.”
“Okay.” Jason replied.
Su Han, who was chatting with Jason, walked out of the room with her phone. She pushed opened Lu Jia’er’s bedroom door. “Watch a movie with us tonight!”
“Us?” Lu Jia’er, who was researching, asked.
“And Jason!” Su Han told her the truth.
Lu Jia’er declined the offer directly. “I am not interested in being the third wheel!”
“But he bought three tickets!” Su Han asked.
“It’s just one ticket going to be wasted.” Lu Jia’er said.
Su Han actually agreed with Lu Jia’er. It was not honest to bring one’s bestie when dating with the boyfriend. After all, not everyone was used to witnessing public displays of affection!