Chapter 381: Change
Big T is elected.
Jonathan understood that the White House indeed had the most accurate data.
When the media were hyping that Kamala’s support rate had surpassed Big T’s, Sharvin had already made the precise prophecy that Big T was about to take office and NASA’s authority was about to be handed over to Musk.
Or rather, this was not a prophecy, but confidence in placing a bet after seeing the cards.
Outside the window, November’s cold wind in Washington howled past. Could Big T’s taking office really bring a brand new beginning to this empire and turn defeat into victory in this new century’s space race?
America’s voters made their judgment and gave their choice.
Jonathan didn’t know the answer, and no one could know the answer.
Countless money settled into dust at this moment, and countless future interests were just beginning at this moment.
The news of Big T’s election victory swept across the globe, from Washington to Yanjing, from New York to London. All sensitive people realized that this would be the beginning of turmoil.
“Oh, no!”
In Harvard’s Sanders Theater, Ingmar was moaning softly, and the young students on site were immersed in a sea of sadness, with expressions of disbelief on everyone’s faces.
Wang Jiarui heard a girl behind him say softly: “No, don’t people hope for the appearance of a female president? It was like this in 2016, and it’s like this again in 2024.”
He also saw a professor with graying hair sitting at the podium, with a half-smiling expression. He had seen this expression at Fudan during a lecture.
On Bilibili and in various groups, it could often be seen too, but on the Chinese Internet, this wasn’t called half-smiling; it was called hard to hold back laughter, Zhang VV’s exclusive expression.
Wait, so Sanders Theater also has Big T supporters? If that’s the case, why not go to the Cambridge Queen’s Pub to celebrate with the echo chamber? Could it be that watching Kamala supporters wail here gives a double sense of pleasure? But if Kamala wins, you should bear double the pain too.
Wang Jiarui shook his head, treating this as the old professor’s quirk.
He stood up and patted Ingmar’s shoulder: “Alright, we can come again in four years.”
Ingmar shook his head: “No, we might not be able to come again in four years.”
Wang Jiarui asked puzzledly: “Will America have no election in four years? That can’t be.”
Ingmar said: “What era is it now? It’s truly the era of change, an era of rapid technological rise.
In the past, I thought technology had stagnated, that it was an era after smartphones where there was nothing truly capable of changing the world and boosting productivity rapidly.
But now it’s different. China has opened the space age, and in this era, technology will usher in another explosion.”
Wang Jiarui asked: “Do you really believe we can see the space age in our lifetime?
Why do I feel the space age is still too distant?
Humanity can’t possibly immigrate to the Moon, right?”
Ingmar shook his head: “No.”
He had regained his calmness and sat on a sofa with Wang Jiarui. “It doesn’t mean that humanity’s large-scale immigration to alien planets is the space age.
China has proven the value of the Moon. The Lunar South Pole can serve as a permanent new materials laboratory. What about other places?
What about other planets?
Can the resources on the Moon be utilized?
Can asteroid mining begin?
Can humanity’s small base on Mars begin?
We do applied mathematics; we should be very clear that once China’s small fission power station, rocket technology, and navigation system mature, it will be very easy for China to open the next Mars instance.
Almost no threshold.
Although it might not necessarily send people up, they can send unmanned rovers and small power stations to Mars in batches.
First conduct exploration of Mars’ environment.
Humanity will truly begin to utilize space resources on a large scale, systematically, and in batches, and use these space resources to support Earth’s research and production.
This is my understanding of the early stage of the space age.”
After hearing this, Wang Jiarui deeply agreed: “I agree with your viewpoint. Indeed, from the growth of aerospace budgets in various countries, I can clearly feel this.”
Not just NASA in action.
Other countries are also in action.
They chose to hug the Americans’ thigh tightly. Previously, Sharvin went global and raised several hundred billion US dollars in one circle. Everyone placed their bets on NASA.
“But I still don’t quite understand, what does this have to do with the presidential election?” Wang Jiarui asked.
Ingmar said wistfully: “When Musk demonstrates unprecedented execution, making NASA achieve in four years what it couldn’t in the previous forty, you’ll find that the Whites who previously leaned toward diversity will quickly wake up.
They won’t be satisfied with the victories promoted by the Donkey Party; they won’t empathize with landing on the Moon with a black woman astronaut. The Donkey Party’s narrative logic will go bankrupt among Whites and even Latinos.
What the Donkey Party loses is not four years, but possibly twelve years or even longer.
For us, that’s an entire generation.”
After hearing this, Wang Jiarui thought it made a lot of sense. In terms of the recently popular winning studies on the Chinese Internet, America’s base won’t be satisfied with narrative logic wins. In other words, the Indian version of winning studies can’t appeal to them; Musk’s performance-based winning studies after taking over NASA are more appealing to morale.
“But the premise is that Musk really can transform NASA and really achieve what you call doing in four years what couldn’t be done in the previous forty.” Wang Jiarui said.
Ingmar said seriously: “Of course, he can do it.”
Wang Jiarui complained: “Wait, didn’t you just say Musk was too bad? Now you’re so confident in him!
Musk achieving in four years what NASA couldn’t in forty is too exaggerated.
You know, between 2016 and 2020, Big T also thought about transforming Washington; he kept mentioning deep state at the drop of a hat, but did he achieve it?
He stayed for four years and changed nothing.
Musk’s first term is only four years; it’s probably very difficult for him to thoroughly transform NASA and turn it into a combative organization like in the 1960s.
Besides, after four years, when a new president comes in, it’s uncertain if he can stay at NASA.
On our Chinese internet, there’s always a viewpoint that Musk and Big T will fall out during this four-year term.”
Ingmar finished the beer in his hand in one gulp, then turned to look at Wang Jiarui and wagged his finger:
“No, Wang, General Aerospace can do deals with China; why can’t Musk?
What Young John Morgan can offer is only money. Now that Big T has become the US President, the transaction chips in Musk’s hands are far more than just simple money.
This guy Musk built Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai; China can be said to have saved Tesla.
Every time he went to China in the past, he could meet China’s leaders in Yanjing.”
Before Ingmar finished, Wang Jiarui understood who the other was referring to.
“So, when Musk does transactions, what he can buy or the prices he can offer will only be more than Young John Morgan.
Why can’t NASA produce results?
Can China give the Lunar North Pole to NASA, provide navigation algorithm, provide specific data? Can’t it be done?
China occupies the South Pole, America occupies the North Pole.
The two sides don’t interfere with each other; the North Pole environment is slightly worse than the South Pole, but do the rednecks know?
They will only think NASA wins! Musk wins! America is on the road to making itself great again.
As for the next president or the one after, you should know Musk has money; to the Elephant Party’s candidates, he is a super financial backer.
Still a financial backer who can get things done, has ability, is willing to work for America, and only wants the position of NASA Director.
Future presidents will similarly be unable to refuse him.
So in my view, the future is dim.
The Donkey Party, losing Washington for twelve consecutive years, will probably make certain adjustments on the path of diversity and equality.
This is a disaster for Indian descendants, a disaster for Chinese descent, a disaster for all minority ethnic groups.
As long as you come to America, you become American and can pursue the American dream—the golden age is over.”
In Sanders Theater, Ingmar’s voice was low; the entire site was very noisy with girls sobbing, smashing glass bottles, boys wailing interwoven. Although the two were very close, in such a noisy environment, Wang Jiarui felt the other’s judgment on the empire’s future drifting vaguely into his ears, seeming especially unreal.
“Why was Big T elected?”
“From a philosophy of history perspective, this is cycle and backlash.
Hegel believed history has its necessity, but it often unfolds through the ‘negation of the negation.’
In 2016, Big T’s first election represented a negation of globalization and elite governance.
In 2020, the old timer was elected, a negation of Big T’s style.
Big T’s re-election in 2024 can be understood as the negation of the negation; American society is swinging left and right trying to find some stable point.
This is not simply a matter of personal charisma, but a cyclical manifestation of deep social contradictions.
Existentialist perspective: This is a refraction of anxiety and choice.
Sartre believed people are fundamentally thrown into the world and make choices in uncertainty.
Ordinary American public, facing economic downturn, international order turmoil, uncertainty brought by new technologies like artificial intelligence, will produce existential anxiety.
This anxiety drives them to seek a leader who can ‘provide certainty.’
Big T’s language is simple, direct, with a certain strongman posture, which psychologically soothes anxious crowds better than Kamala’s complex policies shown during speeches.”
Crimson Search has been launched. Tencent fully acquired Sogou as early as 2021. After Crimson was launched, Tencent quickly merged Sogou and Crimson, launching a search engine based on Crimson artificial intelligence.
Including the name and interface all became Crimson; the deepred domain was also bought, and the original Sogou search URL would directly redirect to the Crimson Search page.
Now, there’s only Crimson, no Sogou.
The homework Lin Ran assigned to interns last year, called Crimson Thinking application, was also embedded in the right sidebar of Crimson Search.
It provides analysis from a humanities and social sciences perspective.
Like the above answer, if you input in Crimson Search: why Big T was able to be elected, it will give you a reference from humanities and social sciences, or philosophy, or sociology, or other disciplines.
Crimson Thinking appears on the side as a separate module, somewhat like a magazine sidebar, but you can click into it to discuss around the question you want to ask.
According to backend data, in a single search, over 20% of users click on Crimson Thinking to chat with this artificial intelligence born from Crimson but different.
20% is already very exaggerated, after all, not every search is researching important problems; maybe you just want to ask something simple like horoscope time.
Crimson Thinking’s data performance is so good that now Weibo hopes Crimson Thinking can be embedded, while Tencent, for application promotion considerations, hopes Crimson can be the exclusive entry for Crimson Thinking.
“Feels like Crimson is much more usable than at the beginning!” Li Xiaoman was currently Lin Ran’s secretary in the office, of course, this secretary was not that secretary.
Under him simultaneously Apollo Technology, Crimson Technology, Jiaotong University frontier technology research center; one secretary is definitely not enough. Lin Ran has an entire secretary team, a total of five people serving him; Li Xiaoman is the manager of this team.
Also serving as Vice President of Apollo Technology, in charge of legal and personnel.
Internally considered Lin Ran’s most trusted confidante.
Therefore, she has her own workstation in Lin Ran’s office.
If Lin Ran is in the office, Li Xiaoman chats a bit when she sees he’s free.
Lin Ran was getting water, so she spoke up.
Lin Ran said without looking up: “Definitely.
After all, Crimson has iterated many versions; the current Crimson definitely has significant improvements in capability compared to the initial Crimson.
Including the first professional assistant we launched now, also based on the new framework, a brand new application.”
The professional assistant refers to the software they launched specifically for programmers with code writing functions; not only can it write code, but it can also test run the code, find bugs in this code segment, and make adjustments.
Basically can be seen as a complete workflow.
Compared to GPT’s code writing, it’s more like human work logic.
Of course, this professional assistant is not cheap, 300 yuan per month, because it’s only for Chinese IPs, locked by IP, monthly active users around 200,000, not a lot.
Rather than saying it’s to make money, it’s more like an attempt at revenue generation.
“Then why not keep holding press conferences like GPT to do iterations?” Li Xiaoman asked puzzledly.
Lin Ran said: “Our business model with OpenAI is completely different paths; haven’t you noticed?
OpenAI sells services; GPT’s membership model has four or five tiers, and except for the most basic version, others require payment.
While we have never expected Crimson to achieve profit in the short term.
Crimson Technology, except for one round of financing within the state-owned capital system, has no external financing.
OpenAI’s financing valuation is 150 billion US dollars; the capital behind it has huge profit demands and needs pretty financial data so they can cash out upon listing.
This bubble has to be inflated.
So they need to keep holding press conferences, announcing new versions launched, attracting users, new users, and old users who stopped using GPT to come back.
Crimson is not; Crimson won’t even list, we have no profit pressure.
What Crimson needs is two things. First, for Chinese people, an usable, good-to-use artificial intelligence application.
Actually only this one thing; the second is for Tencent, as Crimson’s actual operator.
They need to use Crimson, embed it into their own ecosystem, to compete with other manufacturers for user time.
So their strategy is to give users a subtle sense of surprise.
Xiaoman, think, if holding press conferences regularly, doesn’t that mean it only has a major update at press conference time?
For users Tencent wants to pull from Baidu, Quark, Douyin, Xiaohongshu these apps, after the press conference they experience it, if not as expected, they go back to their familiar apps.
Their usage after the press conference is even very superficial; compared to their familiar apps, Crimson must have very significant advantages, advantages that can be felt even in a quick try, for them to switch to Crimson.
But now like this, subtle updates, will make users always have expectation; once you’re familiar with it, using it makes you unable to leave it.”
The biggest benefit of Pony working at Apollo Technology is that Lin Ran can learn a lot of internet thinking from him.
How to do products in the internet era.
Pony is absolutely a master-level figure in this aspect.
Lin Ran got a lot of inspiration about how to promote Crimson in the 1960 spacetime.
After hearing this, Li Xiaoman understood: “Got it, Tencent is still playing the ecosystem game, cultivating deep users of the entire Tencent ecosystem enhanced by Crimson.
What it needs is not to wipe out competitors at once, but a dull knife cutting flesh way; when your users are lost, that’s permanent loss.”
Lin Ran nodded: “Exactly, Tencent is even thinking now whether to bring Tencent Weibo back.
QQ Browser, WeChat, search engine, Enterprise WeChat these apps, under Crimson’s boost, are rapidly eroding players who originally had unique advantages in these fields.
So now online there are voices saying Tencent wants to monopolize again.”
Li Xiaoman added: “Because Crimson’s advantages are really obvious.”
Lin Ran: “Yes.”
After saying that, he carried his water cup back to his desk.
Li Xiaoman walked in front of him: “This morning your three PhDs will come to see you; which one first?”
“Just in the order of pure mathematics, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.” Lin Ran said.
In Lin Ran’s unseen view, Li Xiaoman rolled her eyes; wasn’t this also discrimination against pure mathematics?
“Okay, I’ll notify them now, still according to the original schedule, starting at 9:30?”
“Good.”
Although said to start from 9:30, Lin Ran’s three PhDs had already been waiting in Apollo Technology’s meeting room since before 8 o’clock.
The three were respectively Wang Yuefeng, Zhang Yuxuan, and Li Tianzhong, corresponding to pure mathematics, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.
Only Li Tianzhong was from Jiaotong University.
It was still that Lin Ran’s PhD spots were too hot; emails from all over the world flooded his work email at Jiaotong University.
They were self-recommendation letters from various countries around the world.
Without AI for screening, just reading the emails would exhaust Jiaotong University’s staff.
If not for Jiaotong University strongly requiring that there must be one from Jiaotong, Ran Shen, your PhDs would all be snatched by Top2; how can we claim to rival or surpass Top2?
So the final three selected were respectively from Yenching University, Tsinghua University, and Shanghai Jiaotong University.
On the Chinese Internet, Shanghai Jiaotong University won again; the PhD of the only existing dual-academy academician, respectively from Top3.
Jiaotong University once again secured the top3 position.
The three sat in the meeting room; normally they would chat a bit.
But couldn’t handle that all three were social anxiety types, the kind who would absolutely not say more if they could say less.
Lin Ran also unlike other professors, wouldn’t take PhDs to eat together or organize meetings for them to get to know each other at enrollment.
They rarely see Lin Ran; each time it’s like this, taking turns to see him at Apollo Technology.
To the point that everyone only knows who the others are, not familiar at all.
The whole atmosphere was all about awkwardness.
“Wang Yuefeng, Zhang Yuxuan, and Li Tianzhong, you three later in this order, first Wang Yuefeng and I go see General Manager Lin.”
“Good.” The three said in unison.
Moments later, the male secretary came in again: “Really sorry, General Manager Lin has something urgent; you may need to wait a bit longer. Once General Manager Lin is done, I’ll notify you all immediately.”
In Lin Ran’s office, Song Nanping’s face looked a bit bad, and he said gravely:
“Professor, latest news: Huawei’s latest production line had a serious leak incident; a large amount of information related to Moon technology leaked, currently still under investigation.”
Lin Ran thought it was just a small matter; wasn’t the change coming?
“Was it done by America?”
