Build a supercomputer for 2.8 million?
Sun Zhongyong's words made Chen Mengchuan's eyes light up, but he immediately fell into thought again.
His original plan had been to rent an ordinary supercomputer, since Chisako's initial hardware requirements were not particularly high. But renting a supercomputer inevitably carried certain security risks. If he had a supercomputer of his own, it would obviously be far safer. Yet less than three million could only build an ultra-small supercomputer. Would that meet Chisako's activation requirements?
After studying his expression, Sun Zhongyong continued, "But, Mengchuan, putting your entire personal fortune into a supercomputer isn't rational if it can't quickly generate revenue. You need to think it over."
Chen Mengchuan nodded. He understood Sun Zhongyong's good intentions, but Chisako was the core of his plan and had to be incubated as soon as possible. Moreover, after activation, Chisako would still need time to learn and grow.
"Brother Sun, where is this person?"
A smile appeared on Sun Zhongyong's face. "Very close. If you're in a hurry, I'll take you there right now."
"Sorry for the trouble, Brother Sun."
Sun Zhongyong then drove Chen Mengchuan eastward, and the car entered Suke University.
Jiangmu Ancient Town was very close to Suke University, less than five kilometers away. Chen Mengchuan was no stranger to Suke University.
The car stopped in the faculty dormitory area of Suke University. Sun Zhongyong took out his phone and made a call.
"Auntie... I need to talk to Xiaoxiao about something... Okay, if she's home, I'll go over myself... We'll see... Okay, Auntie, get back to work."
After hanging up, Sun Zhongyong smiled at Chen Mengchuan and explained, "We got sidetracked on the road, and I forgot to tell you. The person I wanted to introduce is my cousin. She has a master's degree from Stanford and specializes in mechanical engineering, mathematics, and computer science."
Chen Mengchuan smiled and nodded. He did not particularly care about any of that, as long as she could really help him build a supercomputer.
Sun Zhongyong was clearly familiar with the dormitory area. He led Chen Mengchuan directly into a building, climbed to the third floor, and knocked on an apartment door. But after knocking for a long time, no one answered.
Sun Zhongyong looked somewhat embarrassed. He took out his phone, suddenly seemed to remember something, then put it away and led Chen Mengchuan to another building.
Outside a shut iron gate, Sun Zhongyong knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" A young woman's voice came from inside.
The small window in the iron gate slid open. "Brother, why are you here?" Her voice from behind the gate was sweet and soft.
"Whoosh..." The iron gate opened. When Chen Mengchuan saw her, he was slightly surprised. The woman before him was clearly far too young.
Gu Xiaoxiao was around 160 centimeters tall and unexpectedly beautiful. Her casually tied bun, jeans, and T-shirt made her look no different from the female college students outside.
After the cousins exchanged a few words, Sun Zhongyong introduced them. "Mengchuan, this is my cousin, Gu Xiaoxiao. She's the person I told you about. Xiaoxiao, this is Mengchuan. He's the one who saved Weijie a few days ago."
"Hello." The two extended their hands and shook.
"Xiaoxiao, Mengchuan is a top graduate of Xia Science Academy specializing in Artificial Intelligence. He wants to build his own supercomputer. This is your specialty, so I brought him to you in the hope that you could help him," Sun Zhongyong began.
"Brother Chuan, you're from Xia Science Academy?" Gu Xiaoxiao smiled at the man before her, adding "Brother" to his form of address. A few days ago, she had heard her mother mention the man who had jumped from a bridge into the Luoyin River to save the Sun Family's only young heir. Now that she met him in person, she had not expected him to be a top graduate of Xia Science Academy as well.
"I just resigned from Xia Science Academy. I'm planning to do something on my own." Chen Mengchuan smiled as well and gave only a simple reply, though Gu Xiaoxiao was exceptionally beautiful.
"What's your budget? What kind of project? Artificial Intelligence?" Gu Xiaoxiao got straight to the point.
"About three million. Artificial Intelligence." Chen Mengchuan nodded.
Gu Xiaoxiao frowned slightly and shook her head. "Three million is too little. You still have to account for venue rent, electricity, networking, and other hardware support. It's only enough to assemble a very small computer cluster, and you also need to..."
Speaking about her area of expertise, Gu Xiaoxiao went on at length. Chen Mengchuan's summary of it was simple: there was too little money, so it would be difficult.
Her words quickly plunged Chen Mengchuan into thought.
Sun Zhongyong, who stood nearby, asked, "Xiaoxiao, I can find a way to solve the venue, environment, and electricity issues. On that basis, how much do you estimate it would cost to build an ordinary-grade supercomputer?"
"With fifteen million dollars' worth of hardware, you could probably set up an entry-level supercomputer," Gu Xiaoxiao said.
"Fifteen million?" Sun Zhongyong was slightly stunned.
"US Dollars!"
"Fifteen million US Dollars? A hundred million in Huaxia currency?" Sun Zhongyong rolled his eyes.
Chen Mengchuan's brows furrowed as well, and he sank into thought.
"Brother Chuan, how much computing power does your AI project need? If you lower the standard and use a small computer cluster, it might still work, but it would be much slower..." Gu Xiaoxiao added.
Chen Mengchuan slowly shook his head. He had no confidence that the ultra-small computer cluster Gu Xiaoxiao described could activate Chisako.
Sun Zhongyong stood nearby, watching Chen Mengchuan intently as an unusual feeling welled up inside him.
"Mengchuan, how confident are you in your Artificial Intelligence project?" Sun Zhongyong asked seriously.
Chen Mengchuan looked up at him, shook his head with a smile, and answered, "Of course I have enough confidence in myself. But the Artificial Intelligence project I want to design and develop is different from those on the market. It's a customized computational assistance AI and won't be released to the market."
"If you don't plan to release it to the market, then what are you making this Artificial Intelligence for, Brother Chuan?" Gu Xiaoxiao asked in confusion.
"I need this Artificial Intelligence to assist me in completing some technical research," Chen Mengchuan said simply.
Sun Zhongyong keenly caught the words "technical research." "What kind of technical research? What are its prospects and industrial valuation? If it has potential, I can introduce you to a few investors."
"Brother Sun, I don't know how to describe the prospects or industrial valuation of the project you mentioned, but once this technology is realized..." Chen Mengchuan suddenly stopped there.
After taking a slow, deep breath, Chen Mengchuan said calmly, "The entire world will change because of it..."
As Sun Zhongyong watched Chen Mengchuan make such an arrogant claim with such a calm expression, his heart suddenly began pounding wildly. For no reason, he believed what this man twelve years younger than him had said!
After their discussion ended, Sun Zhongyong drove Chen Mengchuan back toward Jiangmu Ancient Town.
"What do you think?" Sun Zhongyong asked.
"Although fifteen million US Dollars is already a very low price for a supercomputer, it's still far too expensive for me right now," Chen Mengchuan replied.
Sun Zhongyong curled his lips. "I meant, what do you think of my cousin? She's still single."
"She's all right." Chen Mengchuan smiled. Ayase Sonoko and the many figures who had appeared beside him afterward flashed through his mind, and his gaze dimmed slightly. His marriage to Ayase Sonoko had been a mistake from the start and had never received the blessing of either family.
When they arrived at Chen Mengchuan's home, Sun Zhongyong did not stay for dinner. He returned to Sun Family Mansion to see his father, Sun Aiguo. He needed his father's help in making a decision.
That night, while Chen Mengchuan was drinking tea with his father, he received a call from Sun Zhongyong.
"Mengchuan, the Sun Family will lend you the fifteen million US Dollars for the supercomputer!"
Please add this to your collection. A new book isn't easy, and it's currently in its recommendation period. Four chapters daily, plenty to read! There won't be any missed updates.
Before you continue