Industry: Cthulhu

Chapter 46 Taboo
Fang Yan, Li Muyun and Brown came to the industrial area in the north of the capital.

This area used to be a car manufacturing plant in the old Earth era. Now, after a comprehensive upgrade and transformation, it has been given a new mission.

The exterior of the factory still retains its original steel frame structure, but the surface is covered with alloy plates with the Blue Light Technology logo. Under the sunlight, the entire building glows with a cold light.

The logo of the Blue Light Technology Manufacturing Base is hung above the gate, and after entering the factory, you will find that its interior is completely different from the previous automobile production lines.

The factory is divided into multiple production areas, where rows of precision robotic arms are operating quietly. The robotic arms move precisely between workbenches, and parts are assembled, welded, and tested silently. The entire process requires almost no human intervention.

Fang Yan’s strategy is simple, which is to use precision robotic arms to produce precision robotic arms.

After receiving the blueprint, Li Muyun sought out the most professional engineers in the company and first hand-built several precision robotic arms.

Later, under the operation of powerful intelligent programs, more precision robotic arms were manufactured, and soon filled the entire project, covering all required processes. The robotic arms that were originally hand-built also completed their historical mission and were replaced by products with higher precision manufactured later.

The factory is filled with a faint smell of coolant, and the control panel flashing with blue and white light makes the whole environment full of futuristic atmosphere. There are no employees in sight, only large and small robotic arms working non-stop.

Fang Yan's attention was attracted by a precision robotic arm that had just been assembled. Its appearance did not look special at all, and was even a bit crude.

The entire shell is made of gray-black lightweight alloy, with a lack of decoration on the surface. The joints expose a large amount of mechanical structure and wiring. It does not look like a high-tech product, but more like an ordinary automated machine at the early stage of the Earth.

Brown walked up to the robotic arm, frowning slightly. He couldn't help but say, "This thing looks... untechnical. It's even quite crude."

Li Muyun smiled. He walked forward and stroked the rough outer shell of the robotic arm with his right hand. "Indeed, this robotic arm is extremely ordinary in appearance, even crude, but this is exactly where the boss's genius lies. The exterior is deliberately designed to be simple and rough, making it look more low-key and deceptive."

"In order to confuse others, except for the control chip, which must be imported from the inner ring, almost all parts are produced on Earth, including crucial components such as the planetary reducer."

Brown looked incredulous. "You mean, these parts are all manufactured on Earth? No wonder they don't seem to have any particularly advanced materials or the advanced craftsmanship common in the Milky Way. Is this even possible? Can it meet the Milky Way's technological standards?"

Li Muyun smiled. "It's true that the planetary reducer is manufactured locally on Earth, but that doesn't mean it's inferior. Our boss has put in a lot of work, including improving the process of the reducer motor. The simplicity you see is just superficial. The mechanical precision of this robotic arm is now on par with the highest-level industrial machine tools in the Milky Way."

Brown was stunned. Such a simple factory building and crude robotic arms could actually achieve the same level of precision as the most advanced machine tools in the galaxy?
Fang Yan smiled slightly. "In fact, the real core of the precision robotic arm lies in the program embedded in the control chip, a program with advanced artificial intelligence."

“Although it has not yet reached the level of complete artificial intelligence, it can self-learn and optimize at any time, continuously improving production accuracy.”

"I know that according to the existing laws of the Milky Way, enabling artificial intelligence is undoubtedly a risky decision, but don't forget that we still have Matrix encryption. Under the protection of Matrix encryption technology, no one can crack it."

Brown was stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the robotic arm, practically shouting, "What did you say?! This thing has artificial intelligence? This ugly, low-quality-looking robotic arm actually possesses advanced artificial intelligence!?"

Li Muyun and Fang Yan smiled at each other. Brown's reaction was pretty much what they expected.

Brown tugged at his hair, shock written all over his face, his mouth wide open enough to fit an egg. "Madman! Even a madman wouldn't do this! You know, artificial intelligence is a galaxy taboo!" "You've probably heard about the AI incident, right? That incident nearly split the galaxy apart! How dare you? How could you possibly possess advanced artificial intelligence?"

Fang Yan curled his lips and said his famous line again, "Brown, how could you forget that I have a group of teachers, very good teachers."

……

It was late at night, but Brown had no desire to sleep.

He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes, replaying the sophisticated robotic arm he saw today in his mind.

Its seemingly simple appearance seemed ordinary as if it came from the old Earth period, but Fang Yan and Li Muyun revealed the real secret hidden in it: advanced artificial intelligence!

This incident was like a huge rock pressing on Brown's chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Brown recalled the intelligent computer incident of that year, a shadow that could never be erased in the history of the galaxy.

A group of the galaxy's top scientists and engineers have conducted secret research, hoping that the authorities will enable advanced artificial intelligence technology to enable the galaxy to achieve greater productivity and enter a new technological level.

However, the authorities acted quickly and brutally suppressed the scientists. More than 6,000 scientists and engineers involved in the intelligent brain incident disappeared, and related technologies were completely banned.

Since then, any research involving artificial intelligence has been considered taboo and a violation of the core laws of the galaxy. In serious cases, the offenders may even face genocide.

A terrible thought emerged in Brown's mind: what would happen if Fang Yan's sophisticated robotic arm and advanced artificial intelligence were discovered by the galactic authorities?
He seemed to see the Earth being surrounded by the Galactic Fleet, the Blue Light Technology laboratory engulfed in a sea of fire, and Fang Yan, Li Muyun, and everyone perished in the destruction.

Thinking of this, Brown felt a chill spreading down his spine. His mind was in a mess, and his kind nature and rational fear kept intertwining and colliding.

He knew that as a friend, he must never report Fang Yan to the galactic authorities. That would not only go against humanity and morality, but would also be a complete betrayal of the engineering spirit.

However, challenging the galactic taboos is undoubtedly walking on the edge of a knife. If you are not careful, the Earth will face a catastrophe.

Throughout the night, Brown's thoughts were like a chaotic vortex, spinning in fear and anxiety countless times. By dawn, his face was pale, his eye sockets were sunken, and his few remaining hairs had almost fallen out.

In any case, this matter cannot be kept in his heart alone. Brown feels that he needs to find someone to talk to, immediately.

So, he picked up the communicator and dialed a number, Ariat's number.

(End of this chapter)