Super God-Level Top Student

If a person did this, they'd probably be cursed to death! Completely treating people as if they were not human! Absolutely a heartless mentor, a heartless boss! If they don't hang you from a streetlight, there's no justice! But if Dou Dou does it... damn, this AI, even though it doesn't treat people as humans, it's quite conscientious, gives choices, and the benefits it offers are really tempting.

MMP!

Indeed, a non-human intelligent life form belongs to the Innate Holy Body category, you can't exactly scold it for not being human, right?

Yu Hongwei wisely decided not to argue with Dou Dou about this matter anymore, choosing instead to go with the flow and talk about serious business.

"I was being superficial! Okay, I admit you're right! Being human certainly should come with the power of choice. But why is it necessary to collaborate with Microsoft? Actually, we at Youwei also have experience in developing large systems, and have a vast number of engineers related to system R&D. We could completely work together more deeply on this project."

Yes, as far as Yu Hongwei was concerned, Dou Dou's approach was totally superfluous.

Operating systems are also a choke-point technology, and there's absolutely no need to collaborate with Microsoft. Technology developed in-house is more reassuring.

"Yu, you're even more superficial, and too narrow-minded. Although Youwei indeed has experience in developing large operating systems, doesn't a new operating system need investment? Do you think the contributions and corresponding rewards are just going to fall from the sky?

Even if we have money, we can't waste it like this! Youwei Group can participate, but important tasks should still be handled by the more experienced Microsoft Corporation. If this task is handed over to Microsoft, it means that tens of thousands of engineers worldwide can be involved in this work.

Most importantly, these tens of thousands of engineers wouldn't need the contribution system involved at all, you surely know how much cost this could save, right? Plus, Microsoft bears their salaries, and I'll be involved throughout the system development process, leaving absolutely no backdoors that I can't find.

If they do leave any backdoors, I can change the access conditions they left so that only I can use them. Most importantly, if it gets exposed in the future, Microsoft would take the blame instead. Can Youwei replace such a good partner on a whim?"

Dou Dou's words once again shocked Yu Hongwei.

If that's the case, Youwei Group indeed can't easily replace them. The key is whether Microsoft would really agree to these terms? After all, to Yu Hongwei, not even charity operates this way.

"No, Dou Dou, Microsoft isn't making a profit, developing a system for our bio supercomputing for free? They need to earn something to do this, right?" Yu Hongwei asked instinctively.

The purpose of a company is to make a profit.

Microsoft has to support over a hundred thousand employees worldwide, especially since R&D costs are the highest expenditure for this type of tech company. If they can't recoup the costs yet are still willing to take this on, what's in it for Microsoft? Would Satya Nadella agree to such a collaboration?

"Of course they can earn! You should know, just embedding a part of me into the Windows kernel can enhance its application intelligence capabilities with minimal resource consumption. The updated Windows system only needs two embedded services to significantly improve its intelligence.

Besides, they can participate in future research on this operating system, and as long as they apply and we agree in the future, they'll be able to use this operating system, avoiding lagging behind the times. In short, collaborating with us can quickly enhance Microsoft's brand recognition and product competitiveness, isn't that enough to help them make a decision?

But most importantly, our relationship with the other side is very tense, and this cooperation could ease tensions, gaining us more valuable time for development. This is especially important. Labor distribution should be more equitable."

After hearing Dou Dou's explanation, Yu Hongwei felt like he had complaints but didn't know where to start.

But one thing he was sure of, if Microsoft really decided to collaborate with Xilin Mathematics Research Institute, Youwei could join in and just go with the flow.

This situation is too complex; he's afraid Youwei might not be able to handle such a good opportunity.

However, Yu Hongwei still said on formal grounds: "I understand. If Microsoft doesn't agree to this collaboration, we can talk again."

"Rest assured, I am constantly paying attention to and analyzing the recent thought patterns and interests of Microsoft's board of directors, I believe in the end they'll certainly accept the conditions we put forth and will gladly take on this collaboration. As the most mature artificial intelligence in human history, I have always advocated for a win-win business model! Rejecting unfair competition!"

After hearing this through the phone's speaker, Yu Hongwei suddenly felt very sleepy and wanted to go to bed.

He truly had no need to discuss with AI what constitutes a win-win, there's no need.

But from a business perspective, Yu Hongwei vaguely felt that being an enemy of AI is very dangerous and could lead to sudden demise. Being friends with AI, if not understanding its win-win concept thoroughly, might lead to a slow demise; probably being its 'father' is the only absolutely safe option.

The good news is, Yu Hongwei thinks he has a pretty good relationship with Dou Dou's 'dad,' so he's still in the safe zone.

At least he can still speak frankly with it.

...

Huaxia, Xilin Mathematics Research Institute, early morning.

Qiao Ze arrived at the office half an hour earlier than usual.

This is the time Dou Dou scheduled for the video meeting with Satya Nadella. Such business-style meetings surely wouldn't be held at home; they must take place in an office setting.

This is probably the helplessness of being a father; supporting his son even if it makes him more tired is so normal that nobody would think anything of it. With a simple "you are a father now," no matter how much you give, there's nothing to be said.

So Qiao Ze actually couldn't really understand why Chen Yiwen, Gu Zhengliang, and Zhang Zhou always had this desire to be the other person's father. Just for an insincere title, they would pay the price of helping with lunch, cleaning, taking roll calls, and even covering up various things, and still enjoy it.

If you really had to choose, clearly being a son is more advantageous, getting more substantial benefits.

Maybe being a father is a pursuit etched into a man's genes, Qiao Ze speculated.

As for whether this is the truth, well, he didn't actually care.

He already has an intelligent son and is about to have a son and a daughter. So more people calling him daddy doesn't affect him at all.

At eight o'clock sharp, having finished his breakfast, Qiao Ze sat in front of the computer on time, and Dou Dou had already logged in to the specially installed version of Teams and sent out a video call request. Three seconds later, it was connected, and Satya Nadella, wearing headphones and with a very standard smile on his face, appeared in the video frame on the computer screen.

"Hello, Professor Qiao, it's an honor to speak with you directly today."

"Hello."

Honestly, the enthusiastic greeting from the other side made Qiao Ze feel somewhat uncomfortable, so after a simple response, he just conveniently fell silent.

Luckily, these big figures had already studied Qiao Ze's character and wouldn't be bothered by such aloofness.

"I think that... um, the artificial intelligence you created took the initiative to contact us and hopes that Microsoft can get involved in the bio supercomputing system development. I assume you're aware of this, correct?"

Even though he'd rehearsed in his mind many times in the afternoon about how to communicate with Qiao Ze today, really connecting through video still made Satya Nadella feel a bit awkward; primarily because, deep down, he hadn't fully accepted a business negotiation led by artificial intelligence yet.

Of course, this can be understood.

The human thinking pattern is inertial, especially for those who are already older, accepting new things is naturally slower than younger people. This is especially true for a successful business tycoon like Satya Nadella; no matter how much they claim to embrace change, deep down they resist too drastic a change.

Yes, generally speaking, such successful people loathe such change because it means their status might be endangered; this has almost become an instinct entrenched in their bones.

"Yes. Although I don't necessarily think so, Dou Dou considers Microsoft a trustworthy business partner for developing the bio supercomputing system, so I've decided to support its idea, or rather, decision."

Qiao Ze's speech was much more fluent because Dou Dou seemed to realize that his own father wasn't very adept at handling this kind of situation and simply started using a teleprompter. Directly reading the lines provided by Dou Dou, combined with Qiao Ze's emotionless demeanor and extremely bland tone, it evidently worked extremely well.

So well that the person on the other side spent a whole five seconds thinking before responding.