Rebirth 08: Rise from copycat phones

Chapter 366 Zhiyun's First Generation of General-Purpose Robots
After receiving Xu Shenxue's notice, Ji Chenghe and several vice presidents and executive presidents of the marketing department first went to the robotics team to see the prototype of the housekeeping robot, and then went to the small conference room outside Xu Shenxue's office with several leaders of the robotics team.

This small conference room outside the office looks low-key and inconspicuous, but people who are familiar with Zhiyun Group and the senior management models of many companies under Xu Shenxue know that this inconspicuous small conference room is actually the place that determines the strategic direction of the entire Zhiyun Group, including many other companies.

Because Xu Shenxue often holds meetings in this small conference room that are limited to a small number of senior management, especially meetings on new businesses and new products.

In large conference rooms, formal meetings with many people are mostly just formalities... they are used to inform the company of its strategic direction, not to discuss it.

After everyone arrived, Sun Duoan, the manager of Liuhe Investment's Dong Jingban, sat on one side of the conference room with a Yun Book13 notebook in front of him, ready to take minutes of this small meeting himself.

Many of the meetings held in this small conference room often concern the strategic direction of the subsidiary companies and cannot be announced casually, and even ordinary management cannot know about them.

Therefore, things like taking minutes of the meeting can only be done by Sun Duan, the manager of Dong Jingban, himself!

Although Manager Dong of Liuhe Investment is only a manager in name, his actual status is very high and he belongs to the senior management under Xu Shenxue. The salary of Sun Duoan is comparable to that of the vice president of Zhiyun Group, with an annual salary of over 10 million.

However, under the special circumstances today, he had no choice but to take the minutes of the meeting himself.

After everyone arrived, Xu Shenxue quickly walked into the small conference room.

The small conference room is not big, with an area of ​​only about 50 to 60 square meters, and it does not have the layout of a regular conference room, with a rectangular table in the middle. Instead, there are sofas on the four sides and a coffee table in the middle.

The main reason is that this kind of occasion is different from a formal meeting. There are relatively fewer people participating, and those who attend the meeting are all core senior executives of the company. Therefore, most of the time, people actually chat while drinking tea.

After Director Xu came in, Ji Chenghe spoke first: "Director Xu!"

Several other people also spoke up one after another: "Boss Xu!"

Xu Shenxue smiled and said, "Well, come on, have some tea. The logistics office brought back a bag of Da Hong Pao yesterday. They said it was picked from the first batch of tea trees cultivated from mother trees. You guys are in for a treat. You don't usually get this kind of tea!"

Ji Chenghe said: "Then you have to taste it carefully. I have tasted a lot of real and fake Da Hong Pao, but I have never tasted this pure Da Hong Pao!"

"Is this the first batch of tea leaves? But Mr. Xu, I heard some time ago that you still have the mother plant of Da Hong Pao on hand? When will you bring it out for everyone to enjoy?"

Xu Shenxue said, "You are an intelligence worker, right? You are so well-informed. I just got this tea last month and you already found out about it."

"I had this four ounces of tea from the mother tree on hand, and I had to shamelessly ask for it when I went to report on my work!"

"If you want to drink my four ounces of tea, haha, you still have to work hard!"

"But it's not like there's no chance. This time the robot team has developed a housekeeping robot and everyone has seen it. We're thinking about how to market it. If the results are good this time, I'll take out this Da Hong Pao and invite everyone to have a taste!"

Ji Chenghe said with a smile: "Then we will definitely drink this tea from you, Director Xu. It's just buying a big toy, we are good at this."

When he said this, Ji Chenghe glanced at several vice presidents under him, and then after thinking for seven or eight seconds, he said, "From the cost point of view, the price of this robot is not cheap at all."

"And I just watched the demonstration. To be honest, it's still a long way from being practical."

As he said this, he also glanced at the head of the robotics team, Tang Quanyong, executive vice president of Zhiyun Group and general manager of Zhiyun Robotics Co., Ltd.

Tang Quanyong nodded slightly: "This is true. Limited by the AI ​​training time and data volume, we have only completed part of the project!"

"We have developed a total of 226 training plans for each event based on actual family scenarios, and divided the training plans into elementary, intermediate and advanced levels."

"Among the 226 training items mentioned above, we have only conducted training for 163 items. Among them, only 16 have completed advanced training, 23 have completed intermediate training, and the remaining 124 have only completed elementary training."

“Moreover, the amount of data and time required for high-level training far exceeds the amount of data required for primary training.”

"If we add up the training volume for all training items, we have only completed 12 percent of the training."

"It took us more than three years to train this 12 percent of robots, and we also combined the existing training results of a large number of industrial robots, catering robots and other robots!"

"We calculated that if we just rely on ourselves to continuously collect data for training, the process may take five years or even more than ten years, and the training cost will be astronomical!"

"This is one of the main reasons why we plan to release the product for sale. We hope to collect a large amount of data through customers' daily use, and through the built-in 'AI learning' module, guide customers to become our data trainers and continuously correct the robot's mistakes on our behalf."

"In this way, as long as the sales volume of the product is large enough, the users use it for a long time, and some users continue to correct the robot, we will be able to collect a large amount of data in this way, and continue to train and correct our algorithm."

"This will greatly advance the overall training progress of our domestic robots!"

"If things go well, we may even be able to bring all training modules to an intermediate level through user training within a year!"

“Within three years, we will reach a relatively excellent level and then make a real domestic robot!”

Tang Quanyong's words made Ji Chenghe and other people in the marketing department think about it for a while.

Li Donglai, the group's vice president in charge of the Asian market business, said thoughtfully: "In this case, our goal is not only to make money, but also to let users do the training for us, thereby saving a lot of training costs."

"Have you estimated the cost of this training? How much can be saved?"

Tang Quanyong said: "The training cost consists of two aspects. One is data training, which needs to be carried out in the AI ​​training array server in the group. The current computing power cost is still very high. Of course, this part is a fixed expense, which cannot be avoided regardless of whether data is collected through users!"

"Another major cost is data collection and algorithm correction feedback, which cannot be accomplished through pure AI training. We need a large number of employees to collect data, correct the algorithm, and give the algorithm correct feedback to tell the robot what to do."

"We currently have a direct data training factory with more than 2,000 people currently carrying out this task."

"But we only use this data factory for training on a few core projects, and we outsource the collection and correction of more basic data. We currently have a total of 12 cooperative outsourcing parties in China, and these outsourced data training factories employ more than 15,000 data trainers."

“Although these outsourced data factories also undertake training for other robot projects, their core task at present is still to train this domestic robot. The overall operating cost is very high!”

"According to our estimates, if we hand over some of the data collection and training tasks to users, we should be able to save about $5 billion to $8 billion in training costs."

Ji Chenghe said: "The training cost is not low. Considering this, the price of our robot cannot be too high in the first few years. We should lower the price appropriately, expand the number of users, and then save more training costs."

Tang Quanyong said: "Yes, this is also the main reason why we plan to launch the product to the market now!"

Ji Chenghe continued: "The hardware cost is high, the R&D cost is even higher, and then we have to save on training costs. At the same time, the practicality of the product is still lacking. This market strategy is not easy to implement!"

"My initial idea is that it should be the same as the Hailan SEC back then, focusing on technology attributes and toy attributes to attract technology enthusiasts and the high-income group of the younger generation."

"But this is still not enough. We also need to open up some special usage scenarios to expand market demand. In addition to home use scenarios, I suggest adding restaurant and hotel use scenarios as cleaning robots and service robots."

"Of course, there is no market for this robot in developing countries with low labor costs. However, in developed countries with high labor costs, this robot still has considerable use value and can effectively reduce the operating costs of operators!"

"At the same time, I suggest expanding other usage scenarios, such as guiding scenic spots and exhibition halls, enhancing human-computer interaction modules, and providing some small services."

"You can even add some office usage scenarios, such as delivering documents and packages up and down the stairs!"

"I think since your robot can already clean the table and do housework, it should be no problem to deliver a document."

Tang Quanyong said: "It's not a big problem. Our previous training is all basic training, which includes various action modes. We only need to design and adjust the usage scenarios, and then we can expand it!"

"In fact, our robot is not strictly a housekeeping robot, but a robot that performs various predetermined tasks. It is designed as a housekeeping robot, but we currently consider that the short-term market prospects of housekeeping robots are better."

“If necessary, it can actually be used in other scenarios!”

Immediately, a vice president of marketing said, "That's great. Then our story will be much easier to tell. I'll send a working group to contact you and learn as much as possible. Then we'll hold a joint meeting to discuss expanding the usage scenarios and come up with something attractive so that it can become a big hit at next month's press conference!"

Xu Shenxue did not interrupt Ji Chenghe and others' discussions too much, and most of the time he just listened without saying anything.

In the field of marketing, Ji Chenghe and his colleagues are all professionals, and the subsequent robot market and marketing work is also a very complicated matter, which cannot be explained in a few words. It also requires a series of market positioning and targeted marketing.

These people are just saying a few words here, but a large number of marketing staff are needed to develop detailed plans and implement them.

After everyone had said almost everything, it was decided that the wheeled dual-arm robot would be released on time in mid-November.

With the influence of Zhiyun Group, if nothing unexpected happens, there will be a big discussion about robots around the world this winter. Because, although this robot still has many shortcomings, it is the world's first general-purpose robot for individual consumers.

These are not the robots with limited uses in industrial production or service fields, nor are they robots that are just conceptual products used to demonstrate future possibilities.

It is a truly useful general-purpose robot...

Taking the product positioning issue into consideration, under Ji Chenghe's suggestion, they will further upgrade the positioning of this robot from a household robot to a general-purpose robot.

The product name and code name of this robot were also finalized in the meeting: product name "Zhiyun's first generation general-purpose robot", model: YunRobot 01.

It is not called a 'housekeeping robot' as before, but a 'general purpose robot'.

It was also the first time that the word YunRobot was used in the model, and it was given the code name 01.

You should know that Zhiyun Group has actually launched many robot products. There are more than 20 kinds of industrial robots, and there are also many kinds of robots in the catering service industry. It has also released concept product robots before, and even in the early days there were music and dancing robots and other messy things.

But no robot product has ever been given the Yun prefix.

Among the many products of Zhiyun Group, not all products can use the prefix Yun. Generally, only smart terminal products or some other major products can use this prefix.

Such as various operating systems, tablet computers, notebooks, Bluetooth headsets and other products.

Then mobile phones are no exception...Zhiyun Group's various series of mobile phones, although people generally refer to the C series, S series, and A series.

But in fact, the complete product name also has a prefix of Yun.

For example, for the S16 mobile phone, the complete model information displayed on the mobile phone box is actually "Yun S16", "Yun S16 Pro", "Yun S16 Max" and "Yun S16 MaxPro".

The word Yun has a relatively high status in Zhiyun Group and is not used casually.

Among the many robot products before, because they were relatively niche and did not have much actual commercial value or promotional value, they basically did not use the prefix Yun. However, this general-purpose robot now uses the prefix Yun.

This means that the top management of Zhiyun Group has elevated the robotics business to the level of an important business.

----

After the meeting, Ji Chenghe and his colleagues went about their business and began to work on a more comprehensive marketing plan for the subsequent launch.

Xu Shenxue returned to the office to continue handling various matters.

Xu Shenxue is in charge of many companies. His affairs are not limited to Zhiyun Group. He also has many other matters to deal with.

For companies such as Hailan Automobile, Wecoo Electronics, Wecoo Industry, Nanmen Aerospace, Yihai Technology and Xiannvshan Holdings, many strategic direction adjustments, senior personnel adjustments, research and development or listing of core products, promotion of major projects, large-scale funding approval, etc. need Xu Shenxue to confirm and handle them personally.

So Xu Shenxue is actually quite busy in his daily life.

Especially for some major events, he couldn't just determine it by reading a briefing. He also needed to read through thick reports, as well as various investigation reports submitted by Dong Jingban's assistants. Only by integrating information from various aspects could he make the final judgment.

Xu Shenxue was in the office checking and approving various reports until almost seven o'clock in the evening. He got up and left work when it was getting dark outside.

When we arrived at the underground parking lot, a sea-blue SLC bulletproof luxury sedan was already parked at the elevator door.

The driver Xiao Chen, or the director of the transportation department of Liuhe Investment Logistics Department, was already waiting in front of the car.

After seeing Xu Shenxue arrive, Xiao Chen stepped forward and opened the car door. Then Xu Shenxue got into the back seat. A senior assistant of Dong Jingban, who was about thirty years old, followed behind him and went around to the passenger seat and got in the car.

A driver and a senior assistant who follows him around every day are the employees who are closer to Xu Shenxue.

After Xu Shenxue got in the car, several security guards around him, who were wearing suits and had slight bulges under their armpits and who professionals could tell at a glance were carrying guns, got into the sea-blue SEV bulletproof SUVs in front and behind.

At the same time, a relatively low-key SUV set off ahead of them. Their mission was to survey the road conditions in advance and avoid traffic jams or other troubles. For this purpose, they also carried several specially modified Xinjiang drones.

There is even a support vehicle in the convoy, which is equipped with first aid equipment and medical staff.

As the helmsman of a new consortium who is not very popular among peers!

In fact, Xu Shenxue’s safety has always been facing relatively great risks.

In May this year, relevant agencies informed Xu Shenxue’s security team of a potential risk.

This group of desperate criminals who valued money more than their lives received the order to assassinate Xu Shenxue from somewhere. They thought they could get through the dragnet and kill Xu Shenxue... but they were caught in one fell swoop.

Not only does he value money over life, but he is also very naive!
If Xu Shenxue was so easy to kill, he would have been killed long ago and it would not have been their turn.

Xu Shenxue's security is very tight.

Zhiyun Group's global information collection network continuously collects various information...

Galaxy Security would even frequently conduct phishing operations, issuing bounty orders for the assassination of Xu Shenxue. Once a team accepted the order, the Galaxy Security action team would go directly to the door to kill him...

As a desperado on the margins of society, why not just be a mercenary or a killer? If you insist on getting involved in the fight between top consortiums, that's just courting death!

In various movies and TV dramas, these desperadoes may be portrayed as very powerful and killing people, but in fact, facing a professional team like Galaxy Security, these desperadoes are no different from little kids.

Back home, relevant agencies are also paying close attention, building an outer defense network, and trying to nip in the bud any fish that slip through the net.

On Xu Shenxue's side, he has a large and professional security team equipped with a large number of high-tech equipment.

Over the years, Xu Shenxue has never taken ordinary vehicles when he goes out, but always takes bulletproof vehicles, and has never taken public transportation such as civil aviation and high-speed rail...

He travels either by his own business jet or helicopter, or by bulletproof vehicles, and rarely appears in front of outsiders.

Even when taking a special plane, he did not use the ordinary people's channel, but took the special channel with the security personnel.

According to the relevant person in charge of Xu Shenxue’s security team, the power of his boss’ security team is stronger than that of the heads of most countries in the world!
Of course, it costs a lot of money.

However, these security costs are still borne by Zhiyun Group, and Xu Shenxue does not need to pay for it himself.

After the convoy started and left the basement, if someone near the convoy was using a mobile phone, they would feel a noticeable lag in the phone, which meant that the electronic jamming equipment in the convoy had started to operate.

Because one of the SUVs in Xu Shenxue's fleet was equipped with electronic jamming equipment. This thing was customized by the security department from a special agency. It was a genuine rare and high-end item. Ordinary people couldn't even see it, let alone buy it.

The system uses a lot of new technologies and is so expensive that even they themselves are reluctant to adopt it on a large scale. This electronic jamming device is enough to interfere with some common types of radio communications on the market, including but not limited to civilian drones... This is used to guard against disposable drones.

After all, Xu Shenxue always travels in bulletproof luxury cars or bulletproof SUVs. Ordinary means cannot threaten Xu Shenxue's safety, and some powerful things must be used.

Considering the risks and feasibility issues, drones will undoubtedly become high-risk vehicles.

Xu Shenxue himself was a drone player and had seen a lot of videos of drones attacking vehicles in his previous life. He naturally knew that the threat posed by these things was huge.

If a disposable drone is equipped with a conventional armor-piercing warhead, even a tank turret will be blown away, not to mention bulletproof cars/SUVs.

At the same time, Xiaojiang Technology, a sister company of Zhiyun Group, sells its drones very well in war-torn areas… Since we sell these things ourselves, we will naturally be on guard against them.

The electronic jamming equipment is used to guard against other drones. As for our own Xiaojiang drones, it doesn’t matter!
Once a drone produced by Xiaojiang Technology approaches a convoy, it will receive a special radio signal from the convoy. After receiving the special signal, the drone will also send out a special signal to communicate with the convoy's equipment, instantly transmit flight data and transfer control.

If any fool uses Xiaojiang's drone to try to attack Xu Shenxue's convoy, the drone will rebel in minutes!
At the same time, there are several ultra-high-definition cameras on the top of the SUV, which continuously record the facial information of pedestrians, drivers and others who may appear in the surrounding area. The collected facial information will be continuously compared with some potentially dangerous people in the system... This is a typical application of AI technology: image recognition!
Xu Shenxue's personal security actually uses a lot of new technologies and equipment, even some advanced technologies that are not currently used on a large scale.

Only with the joint protection of the inner and outer layers can Xu Shenxue remain alive and well while constantly threatening the commercial interests of those old consortiums!

If it weren’t for such strong security, Xu Shenxue would have been dead long ago!
(End of this chapter)