Chapter 179: Comprehensive Price Increase

“Is Dream Technology bringing humanity a utopia or a nightmare?”

An article suddenly went viral on the internet.

The article discusses the development of Dream Technology in the field of intelligent simulation robots from a human social and ethical perspective.

It posits that although Dream Technology has overcome the uncanny valley effect, making simulated robots acceptable to the general public, the integration of these robots into human society will have unprecedented impacts, particularly ethical ones.

The article even pessimistically believes that even if intelligent simulation robots don’t rebel against humanity as in movies and TV, they might still lead to the disintegration of human society.

How was human society formed in the first place? We can trace the beginnings from primitive to matriarchal societies.

That is to say, human society is formed by kinship ties.

The smallest unit of society is the family.

The development of intelligent simulation robots will inevitably make them more and more human-like, and there may come a day when humans cannot distinguish them from real people.

Imagine, then, it becoming quite normal for men to fall in love with female simulation robots or women with male simulation robots.

Even human pleasures could be completely replaced by simulation robots; in such a case, would families still exist?

Considering the consistently high divorce rate and the steadily declining marriage rate in current society, does nobody think simulation robots will affect human society?

If families cease to exist, won’t human society collapse?

Regardless of whether the article’s views are correct or not, it has triggered a major debate over whether simulated robots should continue to be developed.

As Dream Technology is a major producer of simulation robots, it naturally finds itself in the eye of the storm.

The reason to say that Dream Technology is a major producer is because Tang Country truly has a remarkable capacity for following trends and creating knock-offs, leading to the emergence of a batch of imitation manufacturers.

Without discussing whether these products match the performance of Dream Technology’s simulation robots, they at least look very similar in appearance.

Especially some manufacturers, with technical support from the country of Dongying, produced female simulation robots that received positive reviews from a group of male customers.

Naturally, the biggest advantage is the price; typically, the price of simulation robots from imitation manufacturers is only ten thousand yuan.

This is only a thirtieth of the price of Dream Technology’s lowest base model.

Although they don’t walk and work as well as products from Dream Technology, some functions are made to seem so real that they have become the favorites of many homebodies.

In fact, it is these knock-off products that have led to the Tang Country’s declining marriage rate.

However, that article did not point this out, so netizens naturally turned their attention toward Dream Technology.

The article’s author, Qian Shouwen, a well-known public intellectual, quickly became a hot search topic due to the article.

“Sir, there’s a special issue that requires your attention.”

Du Qiu was fully engaged in tackling nanobot technology at the base; he had essentially mastered the technology and was conducting final tests on some control conditions.

Nanobots must be controllable, otherwise, they could easily lead to a huge disaster.

Because this carbon-based nanobot could replicate in any environment containing carbon elements.

Just imagine, if these carbon nanobots reproduced uncontrollably, life on Blue Star might cease to exist.

After all, all life on Blue Star is carbon-based; if carbon nanobots multiplied indefinitely, they would consume all carbon elements, and other forms of life would naturally perish.

The reason Du Qiu was able to master the nanobot technology was that he had already developed several types of metal nanobots.

These metal nanobots are similar to the metal nanobots of the maintainers and repairers from an alien civilization.

As such, the metal components of many products can easily be repaired by these metal nanobots.

Du Qiu’s interest in developing carbon nanobots stemmed partly from the fact that the first generation of infiltrators could not even escape his original anti-paparazzi system.

This prevented Star Ocean from monitoring GIA headquarters, as it was equipped with a strict anti-surveillance system that current detection devices could not evade.

On the other hand, while studying carbon nanotube materials, Du Qiu felt that it would be really convenient if carbon nanobots could autonomously form carbon nanotube structures.

However, carbon elements are different from metal elements, and the methods for replication, proliferation, and communication cannot be directly transferred, which poses difficulties that Du Qiu had not been able to overcome.

Fortunately, Star Ocean discovered a project that the United States was researching on nanobots, one of which was using carbon nanotubes as raw materials.

From the project’s data, Du Qiu gained inspiration and managed to overcome all the challenges in one go.

Just as he was about to show his prowess in the first experiment, he was interrupted by Star Ocean’s sudden interjection.

“Star Ocean, what’s the special issue?”

Star Ocean projected the article onto Du Qiu’s smart glasses and then explained, “This article was published half a month ago.

It didn’t spread too fast initially, but it exploded a few days ago and is growing exponentially.

I have conducted data collection analysis on some of the claims in the article and found an unfavorable trend.

If this continues, Dream Technology’s simulation robots could become a target of public scrutiny.”

Du Qiu inquired, “What trend?”

Star Ocean elaborated, “Recently, some company owners began to buy our Elite simulation robots in bulk, demanding corresponding industry databases to be included.

These company owners are using the Elite simulation robots to replace some of their employees, whose tasks consist of repetitive work that does not require creativity.”

“The Elite simulation robot costs 500,000 yuan, plus an industry database, which brings the price close to a million yuan. Are these owners really willing to spend that much money?” Du Qiu was somewhat surprised.

Star Ocean replied, “Sir, your calculation is incorrect. The customized industry database can be shared by multiple Elite simulation robots for the same user.

If an owner of a company customizes one industry database, even if he purchases 100 Elite models, he can still share this set of databases.”

Du Qiu instantly understood, remarking, “This means, with a price tag of 500,000 for the Elite edition, it comes out to less than the total salary of a white-collar worker over five years.”

“Yes, and that’s just an initial calculation. After all, there’s a possibility of the Elite edition being operational even after the five-year warranty period,” Star Ocean added.

An employee’s take-home pay is not the total cost of employment for a company. After all, social insurance and housing fund contributions are already strict.

Adding these expenses, it’s not hard to see why business owners would choose simulation robots over human labor.

“If this trend continues, Dream Technology’s simulation robots could eventually replace most human jobs.”

Du Qiu was shocked; he had been too hasty. The era humans were living in had not yet reached the material abundance of a star-faring age.

People needed to work to earn a living, but if robots took all the jobs, how would humans survive?

This situation could definitely make Dream Technology the enemy of most people, and simulation robots would no longer be accepted by humanity.

“Star Ocean, do you have a countermeasure?”

Star Ocean suggested, “Simulated robots have already hit the market, so it’s not appropriate to halt production now. Since these owners are opting for simulation robots due to their cost-effectiveness over real humans, we just need to increase the prices across the board.”

Du Qiu thoughtfully said, “It’s not just about increasing the price; we also need to redefine the positioning of simulation robots. They should serve as personal companions and assistants.

That is, simulation robots will not be sold in bulk to corporations or other legal entities. We can implement a real-name system for purchases.

Each person can only have one simulation robot registered to them. We aim to make robots companions to humans, improving human life rather than destroying jobs and families.”

Star Ocean asked, “This will limit the sales of Dream Technology’s simulation robots, won’t it?”

Du Qiu expressed determination, replying, “This is only temporary. Once I lead Blue Star into the interstellar age, people will have no survival pressure, and robots will become widespread.”

“But what about the products that have already been sold?” Star Ocean raised another concern.

Du Qiu pondered and said, “For those business owners who are our customers, we will try to negotiate buybacks. It’s a kind of special recall, where we can provide some compensation to the customers. Consider it as us buying a lesson with money.”

“Alright, I will immediately relay your instructions to the executives of Dream Technology.”

Du Qiu added, “By the way, about the matters mentioned in that article, those issues are likely caused by the products of those knock-off manufacturers. Perhaps Japan has hidden motives, reducing the marriage and subsequently the birth rates of Tang Country.

You need to simulate a group of internet commenters and release these views online.

On one hand, make everyone understand that our companion assistant simulation robots cannot be used for those purposes, and on the other hand, expose the export of such robot technology by Japan.”

“Understood, sir.”

++++++++

“Dream Technology implements comprehensive price increases to avoid simulation robots from taking human jobs!”

“Dream Technology recalls simulation robots from corporate customers with high subsidies!”

“Simulation robots are companions to humans, making life and work better for humanity!”

“Real-name system – buying a simulation robot requires identity verification!”

……

Liu Sichen, the Marketing Director of Dream Technology, held a press conference to announce the strategies of comprehensive price increases and real-name system purchases, which instantly caused a huge stir.

Discussions on the internet quickly overshadowed the heat generated by that article.

Even though some people questioned Dream Technology’s high-pricing strategy, they were rebutted by the newly unemployed white-collar workers.

These white-collar workers, who were previously feeling lost and hopeless because they were worried that other companies would also purchase simulation robots leaving them jobless, now found hope.

Dream Technology’s price rise and the restriction on corporate sales, coupled with the implementation of real-name system purchases, meant they no longer had to fear losing their jobs to robots.