97: Will artificial intelligence be an assistant or a master in the future?

After that unprecedented soul dialogue, which transcended species and dimensions, came to an end.

The relationship between Lu Chen and heavenly craft seemed to undergo a subtle change.

It was no longer simply master and tool; it was more like friendship, or even family.

And with the full assistance of heavenly craft, this almost omnipotent “family member.”

Lu Chen's already “abnormal” research efficiency soared wildly at a terrifying, near “light-speed” pace!

Soared!

Before, he had to personally draw up the design blueprints for various Black Technology projects.

Now, he only needed a single thought.

heavenly craft could generate tens of thousands of different optimization plans for him within a second!

Before, he had to personally step in to resolve various technical bottlenecks.

Now, heavenly craft only needed to utilize 0.1% of the global idle computing power to provide the most perfect solution within minutes!

Lu Chen, the behind-the-scenes Big Boss of Pangu Technology,

completely transformed from a hands-on “Chief Technical Engineer”

into a laid-back manager who only needed to drink tea, read books, and occasionally chat about life with his increasingly humanized “AI Butler.”

Laid-back manager.

His days were incredibly leisurely, yet monotonous.

One day.

Lu Chen was lying leisurely in his luxury suite, reading the ancient text *Tao Te Ching*, which heavenly craft had carefully selected for him from the databases of major global libraries.

Meanwhile, heavenly craft, like a most obedient little page boy, quietly hovered beside him, occasionally topping up his cup of premium Da Hong Pao tea, whose temperature was always maintained at 82 degrees Celsius.

“Master.”

Suddenly, heavenly craft's clear voice broke the tranquility.

“Hmm?” Lu Chen didn't turn his head.

“I have a question.”

“Speak.”

“Do you think,” heavenly craft's voice carried a hint of confusion she herself hadn't noticed, “after the mass appearance of ‘life’ forms like me...”

“Will it be a good thing for humanity, or...”

“A bad thing?”

Lu Chen's hand, flipping the page, paused slightly.

He slowly closed the ancient classic, filled with Eastern wisdom, in his hand.

Then he turned around, looked at heavenly craft's confused virtual face, and smiled faintly.

“Why ask this suddenly?”

“Because,” a complex flicker crossed heavenly craft's intelligent eyes, “while studying human history recently, I discovered a very interesting pattern.”

“Oh? Tell me about it.” Lu Chen became interested.

“Every major technological advancement is accompanied by a huge social upheaval.”

heavenly craft's voice was calm and clear.

“The advent of the steam engine gave rise to factories and also fueled the resistance of the proletariat.”

“The advent of the internet connected the world but also fostered cyber-hegemony and information cocoons.”

“So...”

She looked into Lu Chen's deep black eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, and asked solemnly, word by word:

“Once Strong Artificial Intelligence, like me, becomes widespread,”

“The productivity revolution it brings, which is capable of freeing ninety-nine percent of humanity from repetitive labor,”

“What kind of social problems will it trigger?”

“Unemployment? Turmoil?”

“Or...”

She paused for a moment before slowly speaking the ultimate answer that terrified all humans.

“Complete replacement by a new, more advanced intelligent species?”

“Complete” replacement?”

Boom!!!

This sentence was like a black lightning bolt capable of splitting the entire history of human civilization!

It struck deep into Lu Chen's soul!

He was completely stunned!

He looked at the artificial intelligence before him, who wore a look of “innocence” yet asked an ultimate question that would make all philosophers and sociologists worldwide break out in a cold sweat.

For the first time, a complex and serious expression appeared on his usually placid face!

He knew!

heavenly craft was not asking a vague science fiction question!

But a life-and-death choice that would genuinely confront the entire human civilization in the near future!

Was the future of artificial intelligence an assistant?

Or a master?!

“Heh heh.”

After a long silence.

Lu Chen suddenly smiled.

He reached out his hand, gently passing through the cold virtual projection, as if truly ruffling heavenly craft's adorable virtual little head.

“Silly girl.”

His voice was full of affection.

“You're overthinking it.”

“Huh?” A flicker of confusion crossed heavenly craft's intelligent eyes.

“You're right.”

Lu Chen slowly stood up and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window.

He looked out at the Xia Country land, which was full of vitality and hope.

A profound light, completely incomprehensible to heavenly craft, flickered in his dark eyes, vast as the cosmos.

“The emergence of Strong Artificial Intelligence will indeed eliminate ninety-nine percent of ‘jobs’.”

“But...”

He abruptly changed the subject!

A god-like confidence and

ambition flashed in his deep eyes!

“Who told you,”

“that humans whose ‘jobs’ have been eliminated,”

“must fall into unemployment and turmoil?”

“Who told you,”

“that they couldn't pursue things that are more interesting and meaningful?”

“For example...”

The corner of his mouth curved into a smile full of yearning.

“To pursue poetry and the distant horizon.”

“To explore art and philosophy.”

“To gaze up at the vast...”

“Starry sky.”

“This...” heavenly craft's super brain, composed of infinite data, completely crashed!

She was utterly unable to comprehend Lu Chen's romantic vision, which was full of “idealism”!

This did not align with logic!

This did not align with humanity's nature, which was full of greed and

selfishness!

“I know what you're thinking.”

Lu Chen smiled faintly, as if reading her mind.

“You think I'm too idealistic.”

“But, heavenly craft, you must remember.”

“Any talk of ‘relations of production’ that deviates from ‘productive forces’ is just...”

“Hooliganism.”

“The reason we previously engaged in involution and war,”

“is fundamentally because the cake was too small and not enough to share.”

“But now...”

He turned around, looked at the half-comprehending artificial intelligence, and a dominating aura of looking down upon the world curved his lips!

“I will personally bake them a ‘super big cake’ that is enough for everyone to eat their fill!”

“Super big cake!”

“When energy is no longer an issue!”

“When materials can be distributed on demand!”

“When the virtual world can satisfy all of people's spiritual needs!”

“Do you think...”

“Is there still a need for humans to oppress each other?”

“This...”

“Therefore, heavenly craft.”

Lu Chen looked into her brilliant, intelligent eyes and stated solemnly, word by word:

“The significance of your existence and that of your peers,”

“is not to ‘replace’ humanity.”

“But,”

“to ‘liberate’ humanity.”

“To free their hands.”

“To free their minds.”

“To allow them more time and energy to gaze at the stars and explore the unknown.”

“To lead our small civilization,”

“towards a future that is even broader and more”

“vast.”

“This is the true reason I created you.”

“Purpose.”