Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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Zong Zhengming looked into those bright eyes, and his mind went dizzy. He had never known that when the little curly-haired boy argued and talked eloquently, he would exude such extraordinary charm.
And he made him unable to look away.
The business representatives sitting on the right burst into warm applause, and some even shouted across the air: “Mr. Zhuang, well said!”
The corporate representatives sitting on the left fell into silence.
Zhuang Han clenched his fists and stared at Zhuang Li, with countless complicated emotions surging in his chest. What Zhuang Li said now was exactly what he had always wanted to say to the public.
However, he was no longer qualified to speak.
Zhuang Li raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet. He then walked around slowly and asked, “Can anyone tell me what a driverless car is?”
“It’s just a car, what else could it be?” said a representative sitting on the left impatiently.
“You are wrong,” Zhuang Li looked at the podium and chuckled, “A driverless car is actually the simplest robot. Its hands and feet are four wheels, and its brain is the cab. It does not look like a human, but it is indeed a type of robot.”
“I remember that at this time last year, the country issued a red-headed document to ‘vigorously promote the research and development and production of robots.’ So if Mr. Zong vetoes the sales rights of driverless cars, isn’t he going against the country’s policies?”
Zong Zhengming: “…” In front of so many people, he actually stretched out his hand to cover half of his face, revealing an embarrassed look.
This was extremely rare for him, who had always presented himself as a cold and hard person.
Did this indicate that Zhuang Li’s words had an impact strong enough to shake his resolve?
The corporate representatives sitting in the audience held their breath and stared at the two people who were confronting each other.
However, the fact was just the opposite. Zong Zhengming was not embarrassed, nor was he frustrated. He just didn’t want the upturned corners of his mouth to be seen by everyone.
When the little curly-haired boy pointed at his nose and questioned him, his subconscious reaction was love, pampering, and the urge to laugh, rather than anger, disgust, and rejection as others had assumed.
He loved the dazzling look of the little curly-haired boy who took control of the whole scene.
Zhuang Li didn’t care about Zong Zhengming’s reaction and continued, “In this red-covered document, the national planning blueprint is as follows: In the future, a large number of service robots will emerge in all aspects of our lives.
“They will fight on the battlefield for us to resist foreign enemies; they will shop, cook and clean our houses for us; they will accompany our children and the elderly; when major disasters occur, such as earthquakes, floods, fires, nuclear leaks, etc., they will appear in the most dangerous places to save human lives.
“But please use your brains to think about it and think about it carefully.”
Zhuang Li stretched out his slender fingertips and tapped his temple. His eyes swept across the entire room and finally fixed on Zong Zhengming: “Where did the research and development of these robots start?”
Zong Zhengming put down his hand that was covering his face and shook his head expressionlessly. He didn’t understand technology.
The officials sitting next to him also knew nothing about it.
A loud shout came from the audience on the right: “The development of high-function robots actually started with driverless cars!”
Zhuang Li’s fingertips quickly locked onto the man and affirmed, “Yes, you are right. The starting point of the research and development of high-function robots is driverless cars. The relationship between them is the leap from single-celled organisms to multi-celled organisms, which is a process of evolution.”
“If we can’t even develop robots that run on four wheels, how can we make them stand up and walk with their slender limbs? Only lower animals crawl on the ground, but humans can walk around the world with their legs.”
“Do you see the direction of evolution? Can you understand the generational development path of robots?” Zhuang Li slowly turned his body and looked around at everyone in the field.
Finally, he faced Zong Zhengming and said sternly, “Our rejection of driverless car technology may seem to be for the sake of ensuring consumer safety, but in fact it is cutting off the path for robot technology to move from low-end to high-end, which is seriously contrary to our country’s development strategy. So I would like to ask Mr. Zong Zhengming to rescind his decision.”
He bowed gracefully, walked slowly back to his seat, and said, “My speech is over. Thank you all for your patience in listening.”
Thunderous applause suddenly broke out from the audience seats on the right.
Master Zhuang said everything they wanted to say but didn’t dare to say! Great, this is the philosophy that real scientific researchers should have!
How can we get cutting-edge technology without starting from the bottom up? These government officials with big brains only know how to make decisions without thinking about the development of the real world and the logical connections hidden in everything!
Zong Zhengming, who was full of nonsense, said: “…”
Even though the little curly-haired boy pointed at his nose and scolded him in person, he was really happy, and the pride in his chest was almost overflowing.
However, the necessary procedures still had to be followed, so Zong Zhengming raised his hand and asked the most critical question: “If the driverless car hit and killed someone, how would you handle it? How would the responsibility for the accident be divided? Who should bear the legal consequences?”
Faced with this question, the audience seats on the right, which had just been applauding, fell into silence, while the corporate representatives sitting on the left all smiled secretly.
In fact, the imperfection of the law was the real key to hindering the development of driverless technology. If the country could not formulate relatively complete legal provisions in a short period of time, the government would inevitably delay the promotion of this technology.
After all, the government’s primary function was to protect the lives and safety of the people, which no one could encroach upon.
As long as the government delayed long enough, traditional automakers would still have time to adjust their industrial layout.
The formulation and promulgation of a new law would take at least several years.
After a few years, the emerging car companies on the other side would either die or be crippled, and their cash flow could not be delayed.
The people sitting on the left visibly relaxed.
The people sitting on the right all looked towards Master Zhuang. Unknowingly, this young man who had just started out had become their leader.
Zhuang Li chuckled and said slowly: “If the government allows, in the future, each smart car produced by Huarui will apply for a natural person identity from the government department and carry out activities in the society in the name of Huarui employees. Us Huarui will set up a special fund for them. If they cause an accident and the traffic police determine that they are responsible, Huarui will pay all compensation.”
As soon as these words came out, there was another uproar of shock in the venue.
Outsiders only saw Zhuang Li’s lavish spending, but insiders were deeply attracted by his proposals.
Registering each robot as a natural person and having R&D companies, insurance companies and the government jointly assumed regulatory responsibilities was the key to formulating the new bill. All problems could be solved right now!
In fact, what had troubled Zong Zhengming was the issue of formulating special bills, rather than the issue of whether to cancel the sales rights.
He never thought of stopping the development of this technology, he just wanted to put a rein on it to minimize the social harm it might cause.
Now, Xiao Curly had found the reins and handed them to him, why wouldn’t he take them?
Zong Zhengming looked at the officials on his left and right.
These people either nodded and smiled, or frowned and thought, but they had not yet reached a consensus.
Zhuang Li said at this time: “Have you ever thought that when this technology is fully mature and the death rate from car accidents declines.”
“By then, you will no longer be discussing whether it is legal for robots to drive cars, but whether it is legal for humans to take control of the steering wheel again.”
“You see, this is how the world is developing. It will overturn all your current cognition and promote a brand new future.”
“Just as the popularity of steam engines, electric lights, telephones, and computers made it difficult for ancient people to imagine our current lives, the world had already made arrangements when humans had not yet realized that the changes had already taken place. No one can stop the arrival of a new era.” Zhuang Li glanced at the entire audience and smiled.
His speech made everyone’s eyes focus on the void, penetrate the clouds and mist, and see a brand new era that was completely incomprehensible to people today.
At this moment, while they were still discussing whether it was legal for robots to drive cars, humans in the future may be discussing a completely opposite issue. Was this scene absurd? Was it funny?
However, everyone vaguely realized that no matter how ridiculous this scene was, it would become a reality someday in the future.
This was the power of technology!
The corporate representatives in the right audience seats were excited and stood up to applaud Master Zhuang.
Even some representatives in the left audience were impressed by the future outlined by Zhuang Li and nodded continuously.
Zhuang Han, who was hidden in the crowd, almost clenched his fist. He looked at Zong Zhengming, who also stood up, smiled gently and clapped his hands. He realized that Zhuang Li had won the hearing and also won the respect and recognition of the entire industry.
While he gave up on driverless technology due to the difficulties, Zhuang Li opened up a path for the development of driverless technology.
Lost! Completely lost! Zhuang Han lowered his head hastily to hide his extremely embarrassed and unwilling face.
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