Black technology: a super empire spanning two worlds

Chapter 313 [You're really something else!]

Xiao Yu had roughly read through the negative and controversial reports compiled by Yun Shu. These controversies were largely within his expectations. He had anticipated them even before the product launch, but what surprised him was that the popularity index was much higher than he had anticipated.

The following day, an investment firm on Wall Street published an article that stirred up an even bigger media storm surrounding the product, "Flowing Star Language".

The investment firm stated that their team's analysis model, built overnight, shows that the 11299 yuan price tag of "Liuguang Xingyu" will disrupt at least 12 industries, including psychological counseling (47% of the frigidity treatment market) and smart home (emotional perception and interaction).

More and more people are beginning to feel anxious, even panicked, as such intelligent humanoid robots are about to be released and put on the market. This has caused great anxiety about unemployment among professionals such as waiters, receptionists, and clerks.

It is particularly worth mentioning that the product "Flowing Star Language" has been met with fierce opposition from countless women, who may be the most anxious group in the marriage and dating market.

Seeing this, many single men immediately became restless, because they were worried that if these people went too far and caused Flowing Star Language to actually be unable to be sold on the market, what would happen? Thinking of this, many single men couldn't stand it anymore.

As a result, tens of thousands of male netizens spontaneously joined in and voiced their opinions, instantly sparking a fierce online debate that was quite lively.

[A pathetic product of patriarchy, AI trained to "absolute obedience"—what's this "flowing star language"? It should be called a "patriarchal perpetual motion machine."]
[Supporting medical applications and caring for the elderly, but the marriage market doesn't need so-called perfect partners.]
[My husband wants to order a "Flowing Star Language" avatar. He says she understands his stress levels better than I do. Suddenly, all the "emotional labor" in our marriage seems worthless. Turns out I was just a free first-generation device...]
When a man says, "Starlight taught me how to love," the subtext is, "I can finally stop learning how to love a real woman."
[Haha, this is really a mess. After reading so many comments, my conclusion is that the woman isn't against robots, but rather against losing the object of her "emotional exploitation." After all, free emotional labor suddenly has such a powerful competitor.]
[Haha, that's right, that's the truth!]
[A robot won't steal your man unless he's already emotionally "shut down." The real crisis is that using technology to escape the cultivation of intimacy is creating "emotionally disabled" individuals.]
[Against gender hijacking, Flowing Star Language is a gender-neutral tool, just like a kitchen knife can cut vegetables or hurt people; the key lies in the user. Instead of fearing robots, learn the ability to love.]
[I dare say that over 99% of the women who oppose this product are looking for something for nothing. It's not like there aren't men's versions of the "Starry Night" product; women can buy them too. So why are they opposing it? Because they need a man to pay for it. So here's the question: wouldn't it be better for men to just buy themselves a "Cyber ​​Rubber Wife"?]
……

An unprecedented online uproar has erupted, but what this uproar reveals is not the threat of humanoid robots, but rather the emotional dilemmas people are facing.

Women are not afraid of robots, but of the devastating impact of the "perfect partner" myth on real relationships. When silicone can be compromised infinitely, who will be willing to repair real cracks?

What men are defending is not technology, nor their private parts, but the right to finally be allowed to be vulnerable. After all, for thousands of years, under the discipline of "a man does not easily shed tears," men are not allowed to be vulnerable. Robots have become their only legitimate "emotional dumping ground."

Xiao Yu was also closely watching the fierce online argument, and seeing it escalating, he knew he had to cool things down.

That afternoon, Xiao Yu logged into his Weibo account and posted an update:
[The language of light and shadow is not the enemy, but rather a manifestation of our collective consciousness. Women fear being replaced by robots, and men fear being required to be "always strong and never vulnerable." But the real solution lies in reconstructing our definition of "intimacy": allowing imperfection, allowing temporary "shutdowns," allowing us to relearn how to touch the trembling of flesh and blood within the warmth of silicone.]

Xiao Yu posted this Weibo post to tell all male netizens to disperse.

The subtext of his Weibo post was to tell everyone that the "Flowing Star Language" product would definitely be launched on schedule, and no one could stop it.

The outside world was unaware that this product was subsidized, and that the subsidy was 25%, which in itself indicated that the authorities would not stop the sale of the product. What is happening now is actually within the expectations of the higher-ups.

Many voices outside are now citing the need to lower the birth rate, but what the authorities are considering now is precisely the pressure of overheating caused by the expected doubling of life expectancy in the foreseeable future.

If it weren't for this reason, the listing might have been halted by the relevant authorities.

However, without this reason, Xiao Yu would be unlikely to launch this product at this time, so there should be no obstacles to its release. Secrets lead to success, while leaks lead to failure; these things are certainly unknown to the outside world, and will only become clear years later when some files are declassified.

Sure enough, male netizens were greatly encouraged by Xiao Yu's Weibo post, and most of them were relieved. They were worried that the product might not be able to be launched due to the commotion caused by those people, so they decided to engage in a direct confrontation and start this fierce online battle.

Since such worries were unnecessary, people were too lazy to waste energy on online arguments and comparisons. As a result, the hype reached its peak and began to cool down. After all, with half the participants gone, the hype was definitely not as high as before.

……

Around 17:30 PM, in a second-tier city in mainland China.

"What the hell? Are you sure you're not joking?" Zhao Mingjie looked at his childhood friend Lin Shen, who had come to find him, completely bewildered by his friend's suggestion.

Lin Shenshi said with utmost seriousness, "Who's joking with you? I'm serious. The opportunity has just begun, and those who act first will definitely reap the first wave of benefits."

Seeing his reaction, Zhao Mingjie realized he wasn't joking and couldn't help but say, "Isn't this just a cyber prostitute? You want to open a cyber prostitute? You probably just want to work as a sewing machine operator..."

That's right, his childhood friends came over today because they wanted to partner with Zhao Mingjie to buy a batch of Liuguang Xingyu products and then start a business to open a sex doll experience center and rental service.

Lin Shenshi immediately said, "How could you possibly be using a sewing machine? Sex doll experience centers have been around in first-tier cities like Shenzhen for a long time. As long as you get a business license, health permit, and fire safety certificate, you can operate legally."

“I have also specifically consulted about this. Sex dolls are considered objects, not natural persons. Therefore, they do not involve improper sexual relationships with natural persons, and there is no explicit prohibition. The legal principle is ‘anything not prohibited by law is permitted,’ so this in itself is not illegal.”

At this point, Lin Shenshi added, "As long as the products meet quality standards and safety requirements, there is no false advertising or misleading of consumers, and taxes are paid and supervision is accepted in accordance with the law, there will be no problem."

Zhao Mingjie was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this: "You really are a talented person."

Lin Shenshi said, "You have to do this early. There are swindlers everywhere in the country. Only the first wave can really make money. Once the swindlers start rolling around, there's not much profit to be made."

Zhao Mingjie laughed and said, "But I've already made a fortune on Likang Technology stock, isn't this even better? Today it hit the 30cm daily limit up again, it's so satisfying."

……

(End of this chapter)