The birth of artificial intelligence today is a secret known only to Richard Castle, the chubby Harry, and Ramsay's younger sister. As mentioned earlier, Castle didn't intentionally hide the fact that he invented AI, but he wasn't planning to announce it to the world either. His attitude was simple: if people found out, they found out, but he wasn't going to spread the news himself.
This is why, after Harry brought Ramsay to the estate, Castle didn't hesitate to introduce her to Jarvis, the AI butler, despite her initial anxiety over her impressive "Eye of God" program. He didn't feel the need to hide it.
What really troubled Castle now was the realization of the gap between the technology of the world he was in and the Marvel universe he had come from. He had naively believed that after developing the AI gifted by the system, everything would be smooth sailing. However, today's harsh reality made him see that this was just the first step. Castle had been misled by the movies he had watched in his previous life, especially those from the Marvel world. He had assumed that creating an AI and putting it into a high-speed supercomputer would be enough, but he hadn't considered the technological limitations of this world. Unlike Tony Stark and his AI butler Jarvis, Castle couldn't simply communicate seamlessly via voice or data with his AI.
For now, the smart wristbands he created could only handle voice calls using a micro-satellite receiver. He wasn't yet able to achieve the flawless, barrier-free communication seen in the movies. Even though Castle had the advanced mechanical skills rewarded by the system, he was held back by the limitations of this world's hardware. The best he could do for now was a "cut corners" version of the smart wristband, which was far from the high-tech holographic devices Tony Stark casually used. Castle knew that, even if he had the skill to replicate them, the hardware of this slower-developing world simply couldn't keep up.
However, even with these limitations, the smart wristband he had created to enable communication with Jarvis was still impressive for its time. If he showed it to someone like Steve Jobs, who was riding high with the rise of smartphones, Jobs would undoubtedly be interested. After all, Jobs had a forward-thinking vision, and while the development potential of smart wristbands seemed limited now due to hardware constraints, once technology caught up to support holographic projections, such devices could easily replace smartphones. Someone like Jobs, always looking to the future, wouldn't miss the potential.
This was part of Castle's larger plan. Even though he wasn't actively promoting the AI or supercomputer, it was inevitable that people would eventually find out. So, Castle needed to shift his public image. His identity as a writer could stay, but he now needed to embrace the roles of a tech expert and an innovative genius.
Being a writer was his passion, and it gave him a high social status. This could also help his future wife, Beckett, when she pursued a political career. As her husband, Castle's popularity as a writer could help pull in votes from his fanbase.
On the tech side, his genius was already recognized within Northrop's circles, though it hadn't yet spread to the public. Once the title of "father of artificial intelligence" inevitably emerged, Castle would need to solidify his image as a scientist. So, in addition to fulfilling his communication needs with Jarvis, he planned to use the smart wristband to make a name for himself. Moreover, by patenting the device before anyone else could produce a working model, Castle was poised to make a lot of money—proving that his plans were always thorough.
Castle had already ruled out the idea of starting his own company—he wasn't suited for running a business, and even with a professional manager, his erratic working style wouldn't fit. His daughter, Alexis, was still in school, far from the capable businesswoman she might become in the future. Maybe after she graduated, Castle could start a small tech company with her as CEO, but for now, that was out of the question.
Thankfully, word had already spread among the right circles that Castle had privately acquired an advanced supercomputer. With this in mind, he decided to establish an independent private lab. This way, when he wanted to license out the smart wristband, at least he'd have a legitimate entity to work through. Additionally, the quirky tax system of the USA would allow him to take advantage of tax exemptions or reductions for independent labs, which would make his tax situation next year look a lot better.
Also, it would be foolish to send someone as skilled as Ramsay to work for a security company. She needed to be kept close, in Castle's own lab, where she could be put to work under his supervision. After all, if she had unrestricted access to Jarvis, who knew what kind of new disasters might happen? Keeping her and Harry under his watch was the safest bet.
After more than a year in this world, Castle's mindset had begun to shift. He no longer felt the need to conceal his abilities and influence as he once did.
He realized that all his previous strategies of "playing the fool to catch the tiger" or "staying low-key for safety" were unnecessary. While those tactics seemed clever, they were difficult to execute and carried significant risks. He couldn't predict how furious someone might get after he humiliated them, and what if someone decided to target Beckett or Martha instead? He couldn't watch over them constantly.
Now that Castle had the means to protect himself and had aligned with Benjamin, the next U.S. president, he felt much safer. By the beginning of next year, when Benjamin took office, Castle's chances of facing danger would drop significantly. So why continue hiding his strength?
Moreover, Castle was the largest private shareholder in Northrop, the third-largest arms dealer in the U.S. With an omnipresent AI like Jarvis watching over him, there was no need for him to keep hiding behind a "low-profile" strategy. Instead, it was time to flex his muscles and make those seeking something from him back off.
Why waste time dealing with petty struggles when he could spend it making babies with long-legged Beckett?
Now, Castle was confident that no one would dare mess with him. With Jarvis in place, there wasn't a single case in Beckett's jurisdiction that could pose a problem. With access to the AI, Beckett practically had an unstoppable tool at her disposal. Castle wouldn't keep this from her, either. She already knew that he and Harry had been working on AI at the estate (though Castle had used that as an excuse while secretly finishing the system-gifted AI code). Now that it was done, why hide it?
Castle's long-term plan was to build on his newly established supercomputer lab, turning it into an independent research facility for Marvel-world weapons and high-tech inventions. He would license out all his creations—military and civilian alike—thereby attracting powerful allies. His inventions were always top-notch, and he was confident that the money-driven leaders of this country wouldn't be able to resist them.
Once tied together in business, those people wouldn't just sit back and watch him, their golden goose, get into trouble. This way, Castle would gather more allies and secure his position.
As for Beckett, he planned to let her work at the precinct for a few more years before encouraging her to pursue a political career. The money Castle would make from his lab could fund her campaign, and the connections he would make in the business world could serve as Beckett's political allies.
Everything was falling into place.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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