After Zhuang Li finished his speech, there was prolonged applause from the audience.
The business representatives sitting on the right side of the audience all stood up and cheered him, and even some officials on the rostrum showed appreciative smiles.
As Zhuang Li previously stated, the country attaches great importance to the development of AI technology and is unwilling to hinder its research and development. However, recent incidents of fatalities caused by smart cars around the world have touched a sensitive nerve among the general public.
If humans make mistakes, they are easily forgiven as long as there are extenuating circumstances. However, if a robot causes the death of a human, no matter the circumstances, someone will inevitably stand up and promote the "AI threat theory."
Technology is a double-edged sword. If it is not properly controlled, it may cause unexpected harm to society.
Based on the standpoint of protecting the people, Zong Zhengming had to find a way to tie a rein called "law" to this technology.
Before this, no one knew where to start with this new law. However, after listening to Zhuang Li’s speech, everyone suddenly realized that giving robots the status of natural persons is a breakthrough.
"Have you made a decision?" Zong Zhengming looked at the officials on his left and right.
"The decision has been made." Many people nodded firmly.
Some people frowned and said nothing.
After the hearing, the corresponding policy is often not released for two or three months. This delay is precisely the time used for discussion and deliberation among officials. If no 100% consensus can be reached, the hearing topic will be shelved indefinitely.
This means that even if Zhuang Li’s wonderful speech convinces most of the audience, as long as any official present is unwilling to nod, the driverless technology will still be stopped.
The applause at the scene gradually died down, and the representatives of the emerging car companies all showed nervous expressions.
The representatives of the car companies sitting on the left looked relieved and felt very happy.
They know the nature of these officials too well. Today's hearing was in vain. This issue will not be resolved for at least three or four months.
The revision of the law has always lagged behind the development of society. After several rounds of voting, two or three years have passed, and a large number of car companies on the other side will definitely be dragged down.
Young Master Zhuang is still too young. He rushes forward recklessly based on his passion, without even opening his eyes to see the reality around him.
The mall is not an amusement park. There are no flowers or balloons, only flashes of swords and holes everywhere. The biggest hole is something called "policy."
It is said that Master Zhuang also acquired Zhuang Han's "Cambrian", but this deal is likely to be wasted.
Thinking of this, a representative of the conservative faction accidentally sneered, and looked at Zhuang Li with eyes full of pity.
Zhuang Li just stared at his lover sitting on the stage with a very calm expression.
Zong Zhengming gave Curly a deep look, then spoke coldly, "What are you still hesitating about? When our companies are willing to take all the risks for technological development, doesn't our government have the courage to do so?"
He emphasized his tone and asked, "What do you use the power in your hands for? To silence people? To shirk responsibility? To procrastinate? Do you still have the most basic sense of social responsibility? I ask you again, have you made up your mind?"
Officials who habitually procrastinate can't help but tense up and say anxiously, "A decision has been made."
The new administrator is indeed very different from the previous one. He is decisive and efficient in his work and never drags his feet.
"Then let's vote on it by raising our hands." Zong Zhengming was the first to raise his hand, then said slowly, "I agree that the government will continue to support the research, development, and promotion of driverless technology. Our judicial departments must quickly introduce relevant laws and regulations to pave the way for the development of this technology. What do you think?"
Since the administrator has said so, the subordinates naturally dare not object.
So, for the first time ever, the hearing reached its conclusion at the same time after it ended.
The emerging car companies have won a great victory, while the conservative car companies don’t know where the future lies.
Just as Kodak collapsed when digital cameras replaced film, Motorola suddenly disappeared as soon as smartphones came out.
The more powerful a company is, the more vulnerable it is to adapting to critical technological shifts. This is because they've invested heavily in their legacy businesses, making it difficult to shed their burdens and immediately pivot. If they act even slightly slower, by just a few months, they risk being left behind.
The development of technology is not linear. It will be generated, developed and evolved rapidly like the Cambrian explosion of life.
When it comes, it is very slow, but when it really comes, it will change the whole world overnight.
As a result, the conservative representatives all sat stiffly in their chairs, feeling the overwhelming pressure.
Zhuang Han nearly groaned in pain. Abandoning Cambrian and turning to traditional car production—this step had been another wrong one!
Why? Why why why?!
Why was it that Zhuang Li could always pinpoint my weak spots, sending me spiraling from hope to despair time and again? Zhuang Han lowered his head, questioning himself like a possessed man.
The scene in the venue was half lamenting, half cheering, half applauding, and half silent.
Zong Zhengming didn't care about the joys and sorrows of these people. He left first after doing what he should do. Before leaving, he took a closer look at the little curly-haired boy.
He had to admit that he had many selfish motives when he pressured officials to express their opinions immediately at the meeting.
In order to get a good result, the little curly-haired boy had made so much effort, and Zong Zhengming really didn't want to see his frustrated and disappointed expression at all.
At this moment, the little curly-haired boy was indeed smiling, with his eyebrows raised slightly higher than usual. His dark eyes looked over from across the crowd, then he raised the corners of his lips and silently said "thank you".
Just for such a joyful smile, just for such a word of gratitude, Zong Zhengming's empty heart was completely filled.
He withdrew his gaze expressionlessly and continued walking forward, as if unmoved, but his steps were extremely brisk.
---
Zhuang Li was surrounded by representatives from the emerging car companies, so he could only accept the business cards they handed him one by one. At the same time, he took out his phone and sent a text message to Zong Zhengming, whose nickname was "Hypocritical": "Don't leave yet, wait for me in the parking lot."
More than ten minutes later, he hurried into the underground parking lot surrounded by bodyguards, and sure enough, he saw Zong Zhengming's secretary waving at him in front of him.
The two of them ignored the outsiders and walked to a dark corner with no surveillance and no wall lamps. They looked at each other quietly. Their vision was blurred, but it made the heavy breathing and the burning body temperature more prominent.
Zong Zhengming took out a cigarette and lit it. He stared into the little curly-haired boy's dark eyes in the flame, his voice extremely hoarse: "Why did you make me wait for you?"
"Guess what I want to do?" Zhuang Li took a step forward and stretched out his arms to trap his lover between his chest and the wall.
Although he was pushed against the wall, Zong Zhengming's momentum was not weakened at all.
He lowered his head and looked at the little curly-haired boy, and said in a deep voice: "I don't have time to play games with you."
"Who said I was playing games?" Zhuang Li laughed softly, "I have never told a lie in front of you. I liked you the first time I saw you. I want to get you, I want to hug you, I want-"
He approached very slowly, stood on tiptoe and blew gently into his lover's ear, whispering almost bewitchingly: "I want to smoke your 'cigar'."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stretched out one leg and forcefully inserted it between Zong Zhengming's slightly parted legs, holding it tightly.
Zong Zhengming trembled uncontrollably, and his heavy breathing could even be heard by the bodyguards five meters away.
At this moment, he was really driven crazy! He grabbed Curly's shoulders and pushed him against the opposite wall, pressing hard so that he had nowhere to escape. Then he lowered his head and gasped, "I say again, I don't like this kind of joke!"
"Whether I'm joking or not, you'll know once you try it." Zhuang Li stood on tiptoe and put his arms around his lover's neck, which was bulging with veins.
"I won't allow you to regret it, do you understand?" Zong Zhengming said this carefully, and then fiercely kissed the red lips that drove him crazy, obsessed, and made him love and hate them.
Zhuang Li immediately responded enthusiastically.
Zong Zhengming was stunned, as if he had never expected that the little curly-haired boy not only did not retreat, but instead stuck closer to him.
This playboy who loves to play games with others is actually not joking.
But Zong Zhengming was no longer able to think. He picked the man up and kissed him. After that, he held his cheek and continued kissing him. Finally, he pressed him against the wall and kissed him closely and greedily, without stopping...
Zhuang Li finally managed to find a break from the passionate kisses and chuckled, "Let's go back and have a cigar?"
Zong Zhengming hugged him tightly, with such force that he seemed to want to rub him into his body, and then he responded in a low and hoarse voice.
---
The next morning, Zhuang Li woke up early, the smell of cigarette smoke so strong it seemed to seep into his skin. He half-sat up, about to draw the curtains, when a strong arm gripped his slender waist.
"Where are you going?" Zong Zhengming asked in a deep voice. There was no trace of the haziness of just waking up in his eyes. Instead, his eyes were filled with anxiety and tension.
"Open the window to get some fresh air, then wash up, have breakfast, and go to work. Get up quickly and take me there, I'm going to be late, I have an important meeting today." Zhuang Li looked at his watch, then kicked his lover's butt with his toes, his words full of dominance.
But Zong Zhengming's tense face immediately softened, and he smiled and said "Okay".
When he turned around and got out of bed, Zhuang Li suddenly jumped on his back, pulled his ear and ordered: "Carry me to the bathroom, my legs are weak."
Zong Zhengming certainly knew why the little curly-haired boy's legs were weak, so his ears quickly turned red.
This morning was ordinary, no different from any other day. The sun rose from the east, the earth continued to rotate and revolve, and everyone had to go to work and study, but Zong Zhengming's world had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Just because Curly took off his napkin and picked up his briefcase, he said to him lightly: "Let your bodyguard go to my house to move my things. From today on, I want to live with you. Do you have any objections?"
Zong Zhengming was stunned for a long time before quickly shaking his head: "No."
Then Curly smiled with satisfaction, leaned over and kissed his burning ear, whispering jokingly: "I still want to smoke a cigar tonight, is that okay?"
"No!" This time, Zong Zhengming's answer was faster.
Curly Lang smiled as he walked toward the parking lot, his index finger curled lazily. He really enjoyed these kind of ambiguous little jokes.
But Zong Zhengming no longer fretted about this, worried about gains and losses. He stood up and ran after the figure in front of him, feeling a love and anticipation for each day ahead.
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