"So this is the AI driver you developed?"
After the race ended, Derek Su walked up to the Mecha Girl controlled by the AI system. She had already disengaged from her vehicle form, and beside her shoulder floated a metal sphere glowing with a faint blue light.
He had thought the so-called AI driver would be some kind of humanoid machine.
So in the end, it was just a ball?
"That's right." Torch understood his surprise and explained, "It may look like just a sphere, but it has a storage capacity of 1000 terabytes. It can store and analyze massive data streams to help the Mecha Girl execute highly complex operations. Other than control functions, it has no additional capabilities, so it won't interfere with a Mecha Girl's daily life. What do you think? Want one?"
Derek Su's lips twitched. "Do I look like I need that?"
Torch fell silent for a moment before replying carefully, "Isn't smart living being promoted everywhere these days? I thought you might be interested."
"Too much intelligence leads to decline." Derek Su shook his head.
That was exactly how many traditional crafts had disappeared in his previous life.
Some things simply couldn't be replaced by modern technology. Even if ninety-nine percent of the process could be replicated, that last one percent, the essence, could never be reproduced. It might sound sentimental, but he believed some things truly carried a soul and conviction.
On the track, when driver and machine become one, when the vehicle feels like an extension of the body, responding as naturally as a limb, he did not believe AI could ever reach that level.
"Would you like to try this helmet?"
Torch brought out the suitcase containing the one million prize money along with the sleek, high-tech helmet.
Derek Su glanced at it and chuckled. "If I'm not mistaken, this helmet also records my driving data, right? It's not that I don't want to wear it, but what if it explodes?"
Torch's expression stiffened slightly. Seeing his concern, she put the helmet away.
This helmet was a first-generation product. In theory, it was safe, but only in theory.
They had been rushing development, so there had been no time for proper safety testing.
Derek Su took the suitcase. Just as he was about to hand it to Stella, Imperial Scale grabbed it first.
She needed to make sure the amount was correct.
To cover up the awkwardness of his Mecha Girl counting money in public, Derek Su continued talking to Torch.
"The techniques I showed while driving you. If you can truly replicate them perfectly in your AI, and then build on that to derive further data, that would already be impressive. But if you start picking up flashy tricks from this, it won't do your AI any good."
He had some understanding of AI.
The best way to train it was through fundamental logic at its core.
If you added too many flashy, personalized elements, it would no longer be true AI. It would become constrained by a fixed framework, losing its potential.
After Imperial Scale finished counting, Derek Su took the prize money and left.
After trying everything here, he found it underwhelming. The current AI was still in its infancy.
Maybe in six months, things would be different?
...
Torch watched Derek Su leave, her mind far from calm.
"Leader, you were incredible. If it were any other X-model Mecha Girl, we wouldn't have dared use that many recorders."
The functional Mecha Girl beside her looked full of admiration. She had seen it clearly. When Torch crossed the finish line, there had been six recorders around the cockpit. The more recorders used, the more complete and authoritative the data collected, and the better it could be used to train the AI.
Derek Su had even lapped the AI-controlled Mecha Girl by half a lap, clearly holding nothing back.
She thought about it. If any other X-model Mecha Girl had deployed six recorders, Derek Su would have immediately become suspicious.
But using fewer would mean losing valuable data.
Experience really made the difference.
"Enough flattery. Take these recorders to the AI department."
Torch stuffed all six recorders into the functional Mecha Girl's hands and said seriously, "Isn't there someone named Chloe Qin coming in for modification today? Before her procedure is finished, you need to produce the latest generation AI core and implant it into her."
"What?!" The functional Mecha Girl's eyes widened.
"But Chloe Qin's modification is almost complete. If we rush it, there won't be time for safety testing. Replacing the mechanical core at the last minute is also risky."
"Then skip the safety testing." Torch's tone was calm.
"But what if it explodes…"
"Didn't Chloe Qin sign a liability waiver before choosing the modification?" Torch frowned.
"It clearly states that the AI core is a new product with insufficient experimental data and may carry risks. If she accepts a free implant, she also accepts those risks."
The functional Mecha Girl hesitated.
The AI core originally intended for Chloe Qin was the same model currently used on the track.
While it still had risks, it had at least undergone some testing.
This first-generation core had already exploded before. Without a human driver acting as an intermediary, the AI core was almost directly bound to the Mecha Girl's core.
Once the AI core exploded, the Mecha Girl's core would be destroyed as well, leaving her no choice but to be scrapped.
That was why Torch came up with the idea of using human drivers as test subjects. With a human acting as a buffer, even if the AI core exploded, the Mecha Girl could continue functioning.
But now, Torch was demanding a rushed second-generation AI core based on the newly recorded data, with no testing whatsoever.
Installing it directly into Chloe Qin like this.
It was no different from gambling with her life.
Torch glanced at the functional Mecha Girl.
She knew exactly what she was worried about.
But she simply looked toward the dark night sky and said calmly, "Our Mecha Girls shouldn't be scrapped here just for testing. They have more important missions."
"Do as I say. After the procedure, arrange a press conference for Chloe Qin. Let everyone know she signed the waiver and is the first driver to receive the second-generation AI mechanical core."
"That way, if anything happens later, no one can blame us."
Brilliant.
Truly brilliant.
The functional Mecha Girl was convinced.
This way, everything would be out in the open. No one could twist the situation later.
One willing to take the risk, one willing to bear it. There would be no pressure from public opinion.
Of course, the best outcome would be for Chloe Qin to use the AI core safely without issues.
The functional Mecha Girl picked up the box of recorders and was about to head to the lab.
She had barely taken two steps when Torch called out again.
"Notify the ones infiltrating Zuanka Technology. Don't convert all of this year's Nanofiber-Ω material into Nanofiber Crystals. Set aside a portion for Awakening Serum."
"And make sure they stay careful. Under no circumstances can their identities be exposed."
"Yes!"
...
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