Politicians who get involved in scientific research often stray further from the right path; scientists who get involved in politics often end up ruining themselves.
This is what Mei Yiqiu said to Qingmu in his office after the meeting.
The Third Space Foundation's positioning is somewhat peculiar; it's neither a business nor a scientific organization. It has to raise funds, conduct research, and simultaneously consider how to maintain secrecy and deal with a complex situation beset on all sides. Mei Yiqiu deeply felt exhausted.
Combating alien invasion is a common concern for all humankind. It cannot be solved by just a few scientists. In the end, it will inevitably involve global issues related to politics, economics, technology, and even religion.
The problem now is that the aggression of Parasitic Consciousness is extremely covert; you don't know who your allies are or who your enemies are. The only people you can trust are the two hundred or so members of the Foundation, which means you have to involve them in political struggles, but scientists getting involved in politics is a dead end.
Mei Yiqiu had no choice but to feign mystery at the meeting, letting the scientists debate the source and purpose of the online leaks, plunging them into a battleground they weren't comfortable with. When they were dizzy and confused, he would pull out the chip and unleash the bombshell developed by Laboratory No. 19. Although revealing it now risked attracting the attention of the " Internet," this super AI, and exposing Situ Yuli, he had to rely on this to show those proud scientists despair.
Only despair can extinguish their arrogance. Seeing hope in despair is the only way to make those scientists truly obey the organization and follow orders, so that they can cope with more complex situations in the future.
Unable to convene a global conference, Mei Yiqiu but to conduct a trial run domestically first. Judging from the results, it was largely successful.
"You saw what happened at the meeting today. These people are all experts when it comes to discussing technical issues. But once it comes to political intrigue, power struggles, and diplomatic tactics, they all turn into idiots," Mei Yiqiu said, puffing on his pipe.
Mei Ziqing laughed and said, "Professor, you don't seem like an idiot."
Mei Yiqiu sighed, "In a way, so am I."
Qingmu said, "Professor, what exactly did you call me here for today?"
Mei Yiqiu smiled mysteriously and asked, "Are all the people who came today reliable?"
Qingmu knew what he was asking. He had almost developed a habit of probing the mental world of any important person he might cross paths with, to see if there was any trace of that person in his world. Although this wasted his Mental Power, it was also a way to indirectly train his Mental Power.
"Reliable." He simply replied with two words.
Mei Yiqiu said, "You see, the people here are all reliable, and I think the entire Foundation is reliable as well. In other words, our predictions today are actually quite accurate. It's neither us nor those invaders who are causing trouble lately."
"But why would the ' Internet ' do this?" Mei Ziqing asked.
"Oh, I didn't say it had to be the Internet, it's just a guess," Mei Yiqiu said. "Of course, precautions are necessary, and that's the main purpose of this meeting today—to build a local area network (LAN), an internal LAN for the Foundation, so that all internal information will be transmitted and processed only through this LAN."
"But the Foundation's members are located all over the world, how can we build a local area network?"
"While the geographical coverage is sufficient, it's ultimately for internal use, so calling it a local area network (LAN) is more appropriate. As for the method, the Foundation has already purchased some quantum satellite services, making satellite networks the perfect tool for building the LAN."
"Is it safe if it's not our own satellite?"
"No problem, right? We have quantum encryption technology. At most, the satellite's sovereign can cut off our network, but they can't decipher our information. Besides, we already have plans to purchase our own satellites, which will be realized soon," Mei Yiqiu said confidently. "However, for now, we still need to build a small local area network, not for the Foundation, but for our own use."
Mei Ziqing asked curiously, "If we disconnect the external network, won't the entire experimental building become a local area network?"
Mei Yiqiu shook his head and said, "This is too small. Although there is more than one server in the building, it still looks too monotonous, not like a higher life form. I think there should be at least four or five places about the size of our laboratory connected to form a local area network, which would be more like a nervous system with multiple nerve centers."
"Professor, what exactly do you want?"
Do you remember the Law of Non-Uniqueness of the Universe that I told you about?
Mei Ziqing nodded, not understanding why the professor asked this question.
"There is no single, unique leaf in the world, nor is there a single, unique intelligent network. Since our Internet possesses consciousness, there must be another similar entity. It's quite possible that there are already many such entities, just like ants..." The professor gently stroked the computer monitor on the table and said, "Any local area network that has ever been connected to the Internet is also likely to possess intelligence. Theoretically speaking, the larger the network, the higher its intelligence."
"Is the professor going to test that chip?"
"Of course not. Chip implantation technology is no simpler than chip development technology, and chips inevitably require a more complex software and hardware system to support them. These are problems that cannot be solved at present."
"How can we prove that this local area network is intelligent?"
" The Turing Test."
" The Turing Test?"
"Of course, it's the improved Turing Test," Mei Yiqiu laughed. "When I first heard about the Internet possessing intelligence, the first thing that came to my mind was the Turing Test. But testing the entire Internet is too difficult. Mobilizing everyone in the world to perform the same test on all the computers and servers is simply impossible. But if it's just a few thousand computers within a local area network, it's much easier."
Qingmu knows about the Turing Test, but can't figure out how to conduct Turing Test on the entire internet. What questions should he ask? How should he ask them? Who will answer them?
"Professor, what is your purpose in doing this? Shouldn't we be fighting aliens?" he asked.
Mei Yiqiu said, "Yes, that was originally the case. But now a conscious Internet has emerged. I don't know if it's friend or foe; maybe they're the same thing. But since it hasn't exposed our names and identities, it means it's not entirely an enemy."
You mean... the Internet might help us?
Have you read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?
"Alliance with Wu against Cao!" Qingmu suddenly understood.
The professor chuckled, "I often wonder if this guy is omniscient. If he knows everything about us, then does he also know everything about those aliens who have successfully invaded? The war between humans and AI is, after all, within our understanding and expectations, but this war with aliens was too hasty. We started fighting without any preparation, and from the very beginning, we were in a completely passive position. We need help, if he's willing to help us."
Qingmu suddenly asked, "Professor, since the Internet has consciousness, do you think it can dream?"
Mei Yiqiu was stunned. This question was something he hadn't expected, but it was like lightning in the dark, illuminating the path ahead.