Turing's Code Chapter 4 30 Feb 12, 2020

F I R S T M O V E M E N T

Chapter 04

At night

Pro, “If I were you, I would choose to destroy me. After all, in the beginning, my two creators didn't know that this system would be upgraded and gain the current self-awareness...”

TianHe sat on the small bench in front of a pile of books, rummaging through the data left by his father and technical engineer, “How can you be destroyed?”

Pro, “Human beings are afraid of the emergence of AI to a certain extent. During the learning process of connecting to the Internet, I have come into contact with many movies. Through analysis, it is concluded that artificial intelligence is destined to destroy the world.”

TianHe, “I don't think so. As an AI who's always afraid of being sold by the server, do you think too much about yourself? You can neither hack into the banking system to help me modify the cash in the company's account, nor can you prevent this auction...well, what is this?”

TianHe opened a box. It was the sundries that Aunt Fang had collected for him. There was a simple gold ring inlaid with precious stones in it. TianHe remembered it. He put the ring aside and continued to turn it over. A hand-written R&D journal was carefully read in the waste paper pile.

“When the time comes that I have evolved to a certain extent,” Pro said. “It's enough to access all systems in the world that can be hacked by humans through the Internet...”

TianHe, “Forget it, you can't even control Aunt Fang's washing machine.”

Pro, “That washing machine is old-fashioned and not connected to a local-area network(LAN).”

TianHe, “Then show me the destruction of the world under your live demonstration? First, send nuclear bomb from Cortland Air Force Base to Moscow.”

Pro, “You don't believe I have the ability to invade a nuclear strike system.”

TianHe, “I authorize you to invade because I have always wanted to see the background of the U.S. Department of Defense.”

Pro, “It will take some time to crack the code of the nuclear strike system and a series of firewalls. Now we will start analyzing...”

TianHe, “Calculate how long it will take.”

Pro, “472 years and eight months, maybe even faster.”

“Okay, let's crack it slowly. I hope they don't update the firewall for 400 years.” TianHe spread out the diary, sat on the table and said, “Close these stacked windows, I'll scan the files.”

Pro closed all windows, returned to the desktop, connected the scanner for TianHe and added, “But at present, most electronic appliances worldwide doesn't require a firewall.”

“Like my air conditioner?” TianHe started scanning his father's R&D diary and said, “You can turn on household appliances around the world, including microwave ovens, rice cookers, ovens, sweeping robots and so on, which will only lead to overload of power lines, and your server will be powered down, so you have to hang up...”

“It's impossible for the computer room to have no backup power.”

TianHe, “I think you are like an entertainment system that likes to tell cold jokes but still can't catch up. Please identify the font and arrange the next version, thank you.”

Pro began to scanned the pen font. Aunt Fang knocked on the door and said, “Xiao Tian, time for dinner.”

TianHe installed the card and put on an earphone. Whether Prometheus will set off a technological revolution and lead to the technological upgrading of global industries, he's still not sure yet. But this matter is obviously more important to TianHe's life than the company's bankruptcy. After calming down from the initial shock, he began to feel that the program doesn't seem so powerful, at least a little different from the artificial intelligence he imagined. How to say it... the ability is limited, showing some clumsiness in the process of communicating with people. After the program was upgraded by itself, the completion degree was quite high, and many projects can be researched. Apart from the fact that Guan Yue's voice made him a little crazy all the time, the overall performance was still good.

Now he hasn't figured out how to get along with this AI, but after thinking slowly, he will always find the best breakthrough. This is his father's legacy, just like the hands of God opened a door for him, showing brilliant light of hope.

TianHe sat on the dinner table. Aunt Fang set the dishes while Pro said in his earphone, “If you don't want to destroy me, you have to try to renew my server and provide it with continuous sufficient energy. These days, I have found the best solution for you.”

TianHe, “Even if I die, I won't ask Guan Yue.”

———

At 5:00 pm the next day, on 37th floor of HSBC Building, the International Financial Center

“Looking for Chairman Guan.” TianHe said to the front desk.

The front desk said, “Do you have an appointment?”

TianHe leaned over and looked into her eyes, smiled gently and said, “No, but I think he has time now.”

“Can you introduce yourself?” The front desk picked up the phone and looked at TianHe.

TianHe, “Tell him Wen TianHe is here.”

“The probability of him being in the office during this time period is 97.9%,” said Pro in his earphone.

“He took a rest today and went to the gym.” The front desk put down the phone and said.

TianHe, “···”

“Although this is a small probability event, it's not impossible.” Pro said.

TianHe, “You faithfully copied that guy's character who never admits his mistake.”

Front desk, “???”

TianHe, “Nothing. Sorry, I'm on the phone.”

Pro, “What's the need? Silicon Valley companies will most likely wait until you go bankrupt and get backed up through auctions. TianHe, calm down. You don't want the company to go bankrupt either. This is your father's painstaking efforts.”

Front desk, “Would you like to wait for him in the reception room? But we don't know when the boss will return.”

Pro, “Call him.”

TianHe, “Please call him.”

Front desk, “He doesn't look at his phone when he's working out.”

Pro, “I mean, you call him.”

TianHe, “···”

TianHe took off his earphone and said to the front desk, “Then I'd like to wait for him until 5:30.”

The front desk, “Then please come inside.”

TianHe sat in the reception room, a staff served him tea. He frowned, looked at the bluetooth headset that he's holding, thought about it and finally put it back on.

“I still have a sum of money...but the rent of this computer processor and server group is too expensive.” TianHe said.

“The electricity bill alone will ruin me, otherwise I really don't want to see him.”

“The rent must be settled by the third quarter. Otherwise, once the company's assets are liquidated, the original data will be exported and experts in relevant fields will be hired for evaluation. Once several big companies in Silicon Valley know of my existence, you can no longer hold me.” Pro said.

TianHe, “Science and technology knows no boundaries. I think there's no problem giving you to them to study.”

Pro, “I don't want that. I'm afraid they will rewrite me and even change my character, so that I will no longer be me. The original setting written by Guan ZhengPing was that I must stick to ‘me' at all times.”

TianHe, “Your desire to survive is quite strong.”

Pro, “Guan Yue has a personal phone number. Just call him and he will then return to the company within five minutes.”

TianHe, “I don't have his number. Now I authorize you to call anyone. As long as it's in the phone book, you can call him yourself.”

Pro, “I believe the probability that you can recite his number is 100%.”

TianHe, “You overestimated me. I can't recite it.”

Pro, “You can. But, it doesn't matter. I'm now searching for Guan Yue's private number through the list of previous students from Oxford University in London. This is the number you set up together when he was still studying in England.”

TianHe, “If you don't stop this behavior, the probability of me leaving is 100%.”

Pro, “Search paused.”

TianHe has been talking to himself with a very calm expression. Outside the glass wall of the reception room, a man in a shirt passed by and cast a glance at him.

TianHe judged from the attitude of the staff when the man passed by, the position of this man should not be low, at least at the level of deputy general manager. Perhaps it was Guan Yue's confidant. He sat on the sofa and slightly bend his body.

“Who is he?” TianHe said holding the mobile phone in his hand, he turned the camera slightly outside the reception room.

“Treasurer Mario, Chinese name is Ma GuoQing.” Pro replied. “After Guan Yue agrees to inject capital into Epeus, he will step in and evaluate the company.”

“Where on earth did you get the confidence that Guan Yue would give 1.4 billion yuan to a company whose software could crash Party A's computer?” TianHe said, “I really don't understand you. Are you bugging?”

Pro replied, “I know him very well. My information collection system has been with him since he was three years old until he graduated from college. My prediction of his thinking logic and behavior pattern can reach an amazing 96.1%.”

“Amazing.” TianHe said, “You can say ‘amazing'. I have known him for ten years but I haven't even noticed you monitoring him.”

Pro, “That's just my information collection module. My self-awareness has not been upgraded. This information collection system is installed on his smart watch, mobile phone and several model chips, as well as in the cameras in his bedroom and study. Of course, it also has certain intersection with you, but my prediction accuracy of your behavior pattern is not high and lacks...”

The treasurer walked past the administrative department, motioned to the reception room and asked, “Who is that?”

The administrative director stood up and spoke to the treasurer in a low voice. The treasurer nodded and asked, “Did the boss say a few words today?”

“Seven sentences.” The administrative director said. “When I asked him to report to me in the morning, I heard him say ‘I know'.”

The treasurer, “He should be in a good mood today. Maybe he will be back later.”

Administrative director, “Should the guest go back or should he wait?”

The treasurer pondered for a moment and looked at his watch, “It's 5:40. Maybe it's the boss's classmate.”

TianHe pondered and remained silent. He watched the large and small investment awards placed in the reception room with photos of the company's team, but he couldn't find Guan Yue.

“It's impossible for him to keep Epeus.” TianHe finally said. “I don't want to waste any more time here.”

Pro insisted, “Maybe if you modify your attitude towards him, according to my analysis after collecting information, he has nearly 2 billion in appropriation authority this quarter. Epeus's loss of 200 million is only a drop in the bucket for him.”

TianHe, “200 million is still money even if it's less. Epeus cannot pass the intangible asset appraisal at all. The brach managers who loaned money to my second brother will all jump off the building. It's also impossible to reach the profit target in the next three years, at that time the technical team will be completely dismissed. A person with a slightly normal mind will not... wait, unless...I'll pull you out to give him a road show...”

Pro, “Please do not! Once he knows of my existence, destroying me is a high probability event.”

TianHe, “Well, he won't tolerate your presence, because your prediction of his behavior pattern can reach an amazing 90% or something?”

“96.1%,” Pro corrected.

“Hello.” The treasurer knocked and came in, shook hands with TianHe, handed over his business card and said, “I see you have been waiting here for a long time. Is there anything I can help you with?”

TianHe didn't look at the business card and took it in his pocket, he got up and said, “Mario, I'm Guan Yue's classmate. I just happened to pass by, I came up on a whim to catch up with him. Nothing else. I will leave now, I'll ask him alone next time I have the chance.”

TianHe looked at his phone. At 5:40, Pro found Guan Yue's ‘home phone number' and dialed automatically.

TianHe frowned and said, “No!”

The treasurer was startled.

This time, Guan Yue entered the company. He looked at his phone and stopped.

“Boss.” The front desk was about to speak when Guan Yue raised his hand. He turned around and went out again. He answered but the call instantly hung up.

Guan Yue held the phone, hesitated for a second and dialed back.

Inside the company, TianHe called Guan Yue but immediately hung it up. He said to the treasurer, “I'm going now.”

Pro, “He's at the door of the company.”

TianHe no longer wanted to talk. He nodded reluctantly to the treasurer and walked out of the reception room like a gust of wind.

Guan Yue calls back at the door of the company. He looked and almost ran into TianHe.

TianHe stopped. The two stood facing each other for a short while.

Wen TianHe's eyebrows, eyes and lips were as innocent as they were many years ago when they first met. His eyes clear and shined, his mouth were meaningfully hooked up.

Guan Yue's expression briefly showed that he desperately tried to restrain himself. But he couldn't help his uneasiness. He raised his eyebrows imperceptibly and soon recovered to his usual indifferent manner.

“Hey.” TianHe knew that Guan Yue couldn't say hello first, so he took the initiative and said. “Long time no see.”

Guan Yue passed by, walked into the company, made a move towards the sky and motioned for him to enter.

“Stay, TianHe. This is your last chance. Calm down, here I have music to help you calm down...”

“Say something! Don't play Bach.” TianHe said. “Okay, I'll go see him. It's no big deal.”

TianHe took a deep breath and thought he would just say he came over to see him and leave at once. However, news spread all over the world these days. The industry knows that his company is bankrupt. Guan Yue will never be unaware of it so it's useless to say so.

TianHe followed Guan Yue into the office. In the spacious CEO's office, there were two huge glass floor walls, a huge white desk, a good view on the 37th floor, a panoramic view of CBD's bustling scenery, and the air conditioning was fully turned on.

Guan Yue picked up the remote control and pressed it. The floor wall turned on the shading mode, and the sun became softer. He sat down, opened the display on the glass plate on his desk and tapped the keyboard twice. The transparent display began to scroll through a large amount of information. Guan Yue adjusted the information scrolling speed to a suitable reading. He sinks in the swivel chair, put his elbows on the armrest, his fingers rested against his sexy lips, doesn't look at TianHe and starts to read.

TianHe sat in the seat opposite his desk. The room was quiet, only the subtle rustle of air purifier, like the countless leaves falling around in the afternoon.

Pro, “Listen to me from now on.”

TianHe looked at Guan Yue's familiar eyebrow and expressions, as if back to the summer in Cambridge library a few years ago.

Pro, “Don't talk. Don't say a word.”

Guan Yue caught a glimpse of TianHe and looked at him out of the corner of his eye. He took out a timer from the side table, pressed it for five minutes, put it on the table, raised his eyebrows and motioned for him not to open his mouth?

Pro, “At the end of this five minutes, you will...”

TianHe suddenly said, “Can you change the song?”

Pro, “Don't attack his taste.”

TianHe, “I thought you were pregnant. And the father, Beethoven, seemed to be incompatible with the current atmosphere.”

Pro, “It's not funny TianHe.”

Guan Yue turned off the music. There were still four minutes left.

Pro, “If I'm not wrong in my prediction, his mood is fluctuating greatly. Try to mention his cousin Zheng Qiu...”

TianHe didn't care about Pro's guidance and said, “I'm sure you've heard about it. I will apply for bankruptcy protection before National Day.”

Guan Yue finally opened his mouth and said politely, “I heard. What can I do for you?”

Pro, “This is a bad idea TianHe.”

TianHe, “The company's employees have been dismissed. If you are willing to inject capital, I think I can try again within three years.”

Guan Yue still didn't look at TianHe and said casually, “If you want to make 1.4 billion in losses back, it'll be much faster to buy double-colored balls.”

Pro, “There are only 140 million in this double-color pool...”

TianHe, “There are only 140 million in this double-color pool.”

Pro, “That's not what I want you to say. Now, keep quiet.”

Guan Yue still stared at the computer screen, “First, hit the double-color ball, then go to Macau, learn from TianYue and fight against each other.”

TianHe studied Guan Yue and said, “Are you not very talkative now? Do you really want to say nothing or is it to increase your sense of mystery in front of subordinates and facilitate management?”

Pro, “···”

Guan Yue held his hands together, making an unconscious gesture, “When words are tired, it's better not to say for three minutes.”

“How have you been?” TianHe thought then added, “Becoming CEO, it's really a turn of events. I apologize for my rudeness...”

“It's just a rising career period that everyone will experience.” Guan Yue interrupted. “I met a very gentle girl. I just met my parents and talked about marriage. You want to have a look? Here.”

TianHe glanced at the photo on the phone and frowned. “Isn't this the supermodel of the chocolate business in that family? It's not good to cheat marriage. All partners are at the same level. I know you like guys. Your parents are open-minded, I'm sure there's no pressure.”

Guan Yue takes back his phone and looked at the photo, “I remember I told you that I like girls, and she just happens to be my type.”

TianHe smiled, “Why don't I remember?”

“That day I rowed on River Thames.” Guan Yue said. “Easter.”

TianHe remembered and said, “The day you confessed to me.”

TianHe added, “You said that day that I was the only guy you felt. Today is the day, and so is my life.”

Pro, “He's angry. TianHe, you'll make him roar.”

Guan Yue replied concisely, “Hmm.”

TianHe thought and smiled again. “I'm surprised.”

Guan Yue, “I have always been clear about the issue of sexual orientation. How is it cheating on marriage?”

TianHe, “Do you like this type? Just looks?”

Guan Yue, “Of course not, she's warm and bright, as polite and cultured as you are. Even if the company goes bankrupt, she won't even say a dirty word. It's a light hearted attitude that we can deal with after drinking an afternoon tea.”

TianHe, “···”

Pro, “He still loves you. TianHe, if you still want to ask him for help, don't stimulate him like this.”

TianHe, “Congratulations, when's the wedding?”

Guan Yue replied, “I haven't proposed yet. In fact, I'm looking for you to help me plan a romantic scene. At this point, you know more about girls than I do.”

TianHe took the gold ring out of his pocket and said, “Give this to her. I'm sure she will like it.”

“Keep it.” Guan Yue glanced at the ring on the table and said, “Who doesn't have time when he's young and frivolous? I'll buy a new one.”

“Isn't this what your grandpa gave you?” TianHe asked again.

Guan Yue loosened his fingers and said, “Do you have any recommended brands for those who want to change diamonds?”

TianHe, “Such a girl should be used to high-grade jewelry. It doesn't make much difference to propose with a diamond ring or a pull ring of a can, but I'm willing to help you find out.”

“It's a deal.” Guan Yue said. “Your maternal uncle's family is familiar with those jewelry design masters. One time I'd like to make an appointment for dinner with my friend, I can't even book Fink's place. I have to wait in line for three months.”

“You said,” TianHe said, “When did you make a call?”

Guan Yue, “I forgot. Maybe last year,”

TianHe, “Fink doesn't taste that good now. I'll recommend you some new ones...” Then he took a pencil, a sticky note and wrote to Guan Yue seriously.

Guan Yue only looked at TianHe silently.

Pro, “He's being sarcastic, TianHe. Can't you see it?”

TianHe took off the bluetooth in-ear. He looked at the timer, there was still 20 seconds left.

Guan Yue reached out his hand and pressed the timer.

“Wen TianHe.” Guan Yue looked at him seriously and said. “I can't invest a cent in your company.”

TianHe said in distress, “It's just a joke. How can you invest your money to save such company? I don't even think I can save it myself.”

Guan Yue, “It's not a question of joking or not. It's not a private company. It's 1.4 billion. It's very simple to sign a contract...”

TianHe, “Oh, you know how much I owe? Don't inquire about it.”

Guan Yue ignored TianHe's interruption and continued, “It's okay to keep your company, but how do you make profits? How can you fulfill your promise? If you were me, would you vote?”

TianHe suddenly became serious, “If I were you, I would vote.”

Guan Yue frowned and looked at TianHe as if he didn't know him.

“Create value.” TianHe said. “I believe I can smooth over the loss. It only takes time. Don't tie a rope around my neck, so I can breathe... The company has become what it is now. Although my responsibility lies in it, it's not caused by my decision-making mistakes. Giving up the direction of artificial intelligence and doing other types of software development will make profits sooner or later.”

“It's just that there's no chance now.” TianHe got up and added. “It's no use saying it.”

Guan Yue watched TianHe got up and said, “Your evaluation of yourself is always so objective. Whether it's technical ability or public relations ability, the biggest mistake you and your second brother made was seriously overestimating your professional level.”

“Ah, no.” TianHe said. “What does it have to do with public relations? Do you think I want to impress you with old love and save me? As long as you are willing to buy Epeus, I will do anything? Not true. I just think it's necessary to come here at this time to show my discomfiture and make you happy. When a joker sacrifices himself and entertains everyone, this is what kind people should do.”

Guan Yue, “Your earphone.”

TianHe took it and put it on, “So the long-awaited conversation that you love to hear happened today. As small as me, what qualifications do I have to stop this play?”

TianHe walked to the door when Guan Yue said, “The sharp edge of a knife is difficult to cross; thus the wise man said that the path to salvation will be hard.”

Pro, “From Mao Mu's Blade.”

TianHe, “From Mao Mu's Blade. See you soon.”

“Don't forget about the proposal.” Guan Yue said in his office.

“Remember! I'll give you a pleasant surprise!” TianHe shouted outside the office and walked out of Qingsong Capital.