After a round of lively applause, Nick took a quick breather before stepping back into the spotlight.
Looking out at the crowd still buzzing below the stage, he said with a smile, "After everything we've covered, some of you might be wondering: with all these devices synced to our voice assistant, what happens if there's a security breach? What if we get hacked?"
"Is our data going to leak? Is our daily life going to be compromised?"
Nick paused, his expression turning somber. "First of all, we have absolute confidence in our system. I'm not just going to stand here and make grand proclamations about how secure we are."
"Instead, we are officially extending an invitation to cybersecurity experts and hackers worldwide. We welcome you to test the Militech system. If anyone can successfully breach our security remotely, we will award them a bounty of one million dollars."
"Specific rules and protocols will be posted on our official website shortly."
The announcement sent a shockwave through the room and the livestream alike. The chat feeds exploded.
"Holy crap, a million bucks?"
"Where do I sign up? I'm pivoting my career to hacking today."
"Nick is being way too cocky. Inviting the whole world to take a shot? Top-tier hackers can get into the Pentagon. No way his system is more secure than a government mainframe."
"If he's putting a million on the line, he's got to have an ace up his sleeve. He's not an idiot."
"I think he is an idiot who doesn't realize how deep the water is."
"This is a total PR stunt. No hacker is going to come forward to claim the prize and basically hand themselves over to the feds."
"It might be hype, but based on his tech demo, the guy clearly knows his stuff."
"Honestly, most hackers aren't wasting time on a random person's home camera anyway. There's no money in it."
"I don't care about the hackers, I just want the tech. How much? Give us the price!"
Giving the crowd a moment to digest the challenge, Nick clicked to the next slide. A massive question mark filled the screen.
"So, the million-dollar question—literally. How much does this all cost? I know that's what you're all waiting for."
"First, let's look at the peripheral ecosystem."
The screen displayed the three devices from the video: the Smart Home Hub, the Smart Switch, and the Smart Camera. Question marks sat beneath each one.
Nick lowered his voice for dramatic effect. "The Smart Switch will retail for a flat $98."
"The Smart Camera? We're looking at $599."
"And finally, the Smart Home Hub—the brain that connects your entire house—will be $898."
The applause was polite but subdued. It was clear the crowd was holding their breath for the main event.
Nick saw the anticipation and turned up the energy. "Alright, let's get to it. The official price for the Militech H1 Intelligent Voice Assistant is..."
Boom! A bass-heavy sound effect rocked the hall as three digits slammed onto the screen.
$250.
"That's right. Two hundred and fifty dollars."
"At $250, we're positioned competitively against mid-range smartwatches and premium wireless earbuds. You can do the math yourselves."
Nick leaned in. "We aren't afraid of a comparison. We aren't going to play the 'race to the bottom' price war game. We believe the quality speaks for itself. You get what you pay for, and once you get this in your ear, you'll see the difference."
He softened his tone for the final reveal. "Beyond the base model, we are launching the H1S—featuring the aluminum-magnesium alloy shell—for $400."
"And finally, the H1 Pro. With the full carbon fiber body, it's priced at $1000. Before you gasp at the tag, understand that it's worth every cent."
"It's not just the material. We've optimized the Pro on a hardware level to provide an even more seamless experience. Owning an H1 Pro is essentially a VIP membership to Militech. You'll have a dedicated server and exclusive 24/7 concierge support."
Without missing a beat, Nick drove home the finish. "At midnight tonight—technically 12:01 AM tomorrow—orders go live on our official site and major retail platforms. The first batch of 100,000 units is ready to ship as soon as the window opens."
"We aren't trying to do 'scarcity marketing,' but due to the complexity of the tech, we couldn't go into massive-scale production ahead of the launch. We're working with our manufacturers to ramp up as fast as possible."
"That wraps up the presentation. We have an experience zone set up outside, and I encourage all of you to go get your hands on the units."
"To show our appreciation for your support, every person in this room today is going home with an H1 worth $250. You can pick yours up at the exit with your invitation."
"To our media guests and streamers: take them, test them, tear them apart. We believe real gold doesn't fear the fire. Thank you for coming. The launch is officially over!"
Nick gave a deep, respectful bow. The room erupted into a standing ovation. Drenched in sweat and feeling the weight of the last hour, Nick finally stepped off the stage.
"Dry off before you catch a cold!" Tyler said, tossing him a towel.
"How was it?" Nick asked, wiping his face.
"Incredible." Tyler gave him a thumbs-up and draped a jacket over his shoulders. "For your first time hosting a keynote? You killed it."
"I think we should just let you do all of them from now on. The internet is already thirsting over you."
"Forget that," Nick laughed, waving him off. "I'm going back to the lab. Standing up there is more draining than three all-nighters in a row."
Tyler grinned. "Head to the hotel next door, grab a shower, and crash for a bit. I'll handle the experience zone."
Nick shook his head. "No, let's go together. There's a line of reporters out there with a million questions, and I'm not leaving you to the wolves alone."