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Chapter 301: You can’t be friends with someone who is not qualified to surrender!

To be honest, Brad Smith saw it clearly. He even guessed what the two wanted to say.

It is nothing more than the three companies taking out the quantum technologies they have researched in recent years to see if they can produce calculations similar to China's quantum simulation technology in the short term.

It doesn't even need to be as powerful as the Tai Chi series computers. As long as the gap is not too big, it's almost the same.

But before Brad Smith came to China, he held a special meeting and talked behind closed doors with Microsoft scientists who were researching quantum chips for an entire afternoon. The conclusion he reached was very pessimistic.

At least as of now, it is still a dream to build a universal quantum computer. Both the hardware and software are still far away.

It is too difficult to design matching quantum hardware. Therefore, if we want to realize universal quantum computing for the time being, we can only rely on Qiao Yu's simulation theory.

But this is not the most heartbreaking thing.

What really made Brad desperate, to the point that he wanted to stay in China and wait to meet Qiao Yu even though he felt humiliated, was what Microsoft's chief scientist said to him in private.

"Don't even think about it, Brad. It's not just Microsoft that can't do it, it's all of them combined! Even taking a step back, even if we assemble a new generation of quantum hardware computers in the laboratory, it will be impossible to achieve industrial mass production in a short period of time.

Do you know why? Because we are separated from China and cannot find a stable supply chain. Don't believe the nonsense that the most advanced quantum technology is in our hands.

You should communicate more with the scientists sent to China. They are now the experts in quantum algorithms and quantum technology. The Chinese dare to invite you to participate in this product launch conference because their research is advanced enough. "

So when he heard what David Hopkins said, he not only didn't think it was the only way out, he even found it funny.

"What do you mean Brad?"

"That's exactly what you said. You're talking about correct nonsense! Unfortunately, we are now facing a situation where we are lagging behind in all aspects. You should listen to what scientists say instead of taking things for granted.

The simplest thing is, if Intel starts to transform now and designs superchips suitable for quantum computers, how much resources can you mobilize to build that huge supply chain from scratch? Do you have a complete idea?
Even if you have a complete idea now, how long will it take to study the mass production of quantum chips and adjust the entire supply chain system?

How long will it take to straighten out all the upstream and downstream manufacturers? Can the three of us unite to have such mobilization capabilities? Don't say that the people in the White House are not on our side now.

Even if they stand on our side, I doubt whether they have any organizational ability! Even if we really have this ability, are you willing to give up the patent for free?
If we can find a way to solve the above problems, then what about time? Will the Chinese give us so much time to slowly study and plan?
Have you ever thought that as a new computer technology, quantum simulation may make the invalid Moore's Law effective again?

Even if the performance is only doubled every year, I dare not imagine what quantum simulation computers will be able to do in five years! By then, it would be great if our quantum computers can design engineering machines!
Of course, I am not targeting you two. If you disagree with what I said, please provide specific data or facts to refute me. I actually really hope that you can convince me that I still have a chance! "

Brad Smith said in one breath at a very fast pace.

It even has a bit of venting meaning.

There was no way. He had been feeling very depressed during this period, but he had no channel to express all these negative emotions.

As the helmsman of the company, he can't appear helpless in front of his subordinates.

Don't be hysterical.

But now facing two people of equal status, he can finally let out a sigh of relief. Although it is boring, there is no other way. When people's emotions accumulate to a certain level, they can only feel better if they are vented.

After passing his bad mood to the other two people in the room, seeing that they had nothing to say, he really felt a lot more relaxed.

Unfortunately, Brad Smith didn't know that there has been such a saying in the academic community for a long time, that is, the law of conservation of emotions, otherwise he would definitely agree with it.

But after their emotions shifted, the two people on the opposite side fell silent.

No one argued with him, and no one continued talking. One could even hear the breathing of the three people in the room.

The depressing atmosphere did not allow Brad Smith to relax for long before he fell into depression again.

These two guys didn't even think about arguing with him, which meant they had no plan to deal with it, so it was really over...

Now even they, the people at the helm, are not optimistic about the company's future. Is there still hope?
After the three of them were silent for a while, David Hopkins finally said, "Do you think it's possible for us to join the Quantum Simulation Alliance?"

Well, if you can't beat them, join them. Undoubtedly, this is similar to the idea of ​​the boss, and it was probably inspired by the boss's operation.

"Join? What advantages do we have to join the Quantum Alliance at this time? If we don't pay enough, do you think the Chinese will allow us to reap the benefits?"

Brad Smith subconsciously retorted.

It’s not that he likes to argue, but it’s the first time he realizes that these people are too imaginative.

If he were Qiao Yu, there would be no way he would divide the market at this time.

Having gained market advantage, why do you still sympathize with your competitors?

Only external pressure, such as an antitrust investigation, can force the other party to make concessions.

He had held onto these hopes before, and even thought about suing the Huaxia Quantum Simulation Alliance if things didn't work out. But now Brad Smith didn't even want to sue anymore.

It would be strange if he could win this kind of transnational lawsuit without the support of the higher-ups! Even if he could win, there was no possibility of enforcement.

It would be best if we could cooperate. The aggressive rebuttal was actually to hope that these people could find a way out.

"We have to try. What else can we do? Are we just going to die?" Chris Malarkey, who had been silent all the time, retorted.

Brad Smith glanced at the Nvidia boss and said, "I don't want to argue with you, but we should all know that if we can't offer enough, it will only bring disgrace upon ourselves if we rashly propose it!
If this question was not asked by me, but by Qiao Yu tomorrow or the day after tomorrow when we were talking to him, how would you answer?

Are you going to let the other party ask for too much? If the other party demands that all senior executives must be Chinese and accept the alliance's financial audit, would you dare to agree? Even if you dare to agree, will the board of directors approve it? "

"So what do you think?" David Hopkins softened his tone and asked proactively.

After all, they didn't come here specifically to quarrel with Brad Smith.

"I believe you all know that while Qiao Yu refused to meet with us, he had already met with about two-thirds of the visiting representatives, including those from Google and Instagram.

These are mostly software providers! I guarantee that these companies will start serving the ecosystem of quantum simulation computers when they return!
That is to say, for the Quantum Simulation Technology Alliance of China, the important work in the next stage will be to improve the ecological chain of Taiji Computer as soon as possible. I believe this is also the only opportunity to cooperate with the other party at present. The reason why he has not talked to us is because Qiao Yu knows very well that there is no room for cooperation between us. "

Brad Smith paused and said, "In fact, Microsoft can cooperate with the Quantum Simulation Technology Alliance."

"Unless you're willing to give up Windows forever," Chris Malarkey added on behalf of Brad Smith.

Brad Smith glanced at him expressionlessly again and replied indifferently, "It's possible. If classical electronic computers are destined to be eliminated in the future, changing course now can be considered as cutting losses in time."

There is nothing to talk about now.

At least as far as the current situation is concerned, Microsoft really has the confidence to choose to make drastic changes, and it simply has to accept that it will be like everyone else in the future.

But Intel and Nvidia have almost no such option. The intellectual property rights of these two companies are in CPU and GPU. If they completely abandon classical electronic computers, how can they transform?

Especially Intel.

Not only chip design, but also heavy assets are invested in chip manufacturing, and there are packaging plants all over the world.

If Intel really gives up, it means that it will have to find a way to dispose of all these factories from now on.

As we all know, factories are very expensive when they are built, but they are no longer worth the price when you want to sell them.

Especially those chip production and packaging equipment, such as photolithography machines and etching machines, which are even more expensive.

If computers were no longer popular or their prices could not be raised, those devices would naturally become less valuable.

It’s not that these devices have become scrap metal. After all, there are still many places where electronic chips are used.

But if these most advanced extreme ultraviolet lithography machines are used to make chips that do not require such high-end processes, it would be like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

It is even less likely that they will offer too high a price.

The CEO of Swedish ASML is also very anxious. If they don't make CPUs and GPUs, their lithography machines won't be able to maintain such high prices.

You can't just stoop to the point of competing with Nikon and Dajun for the low-end lithography market, right?
What makes David Hopkins even more speechless is that Intel also holds a lot of shares in ASML.

There is no way around it. The rules set by the alliance at the beginning were that the most advanced lithography machines should be provided first to the company's major shareholders, and the shares should be distributed according to the number of shares.

Who could have thought that something that was robbed in the first place would suddenly become worthless now?
In the end they broke up on bad terms.

Even though it is understandable that Brad Smith wanted to find a way out by asking this kind of rhetorical question.

But the other two people who were already in a bad mood couldn't stand his way of chatting like "I still have a chance to survive, you guys are fucking dead!"

The two men did not beat Brad Smith up right in the room, which was a display of great manners.

Of course, Brad Smith didn't care about the two guys who came to him on their own initiative. Their only purpose was to let him know the bad news in advance.

There was no use in doing anything else. They had run out of tricks and could only rage helplessly.

After watching the two men leave, Brad Smith began to seriously think about his previous thoughts.

According to the Microsoft team's market analysis of quantum simulation computers, if the price of entry-level models drops to around 20,000 yuan, the high-end market for classical electronic computers will be wiped out and the mid-range market will be greatly affected.

If the price drops further to 1.5, basically mid-range products will also have to cut prices significantly in order to survive.

When the Quantum Simulation Computing Alliance launches a quantum simulation computer that costs less than 10,000 yuan, it will basically mean the end of the classical electronic computer market.

It's not that there is no market for low-end products. There will always be many poor people in this world.

But the entire computer industry chain has too many manufacturers to support! Motherboard manufacturers, graphics card manufacturers, memory manufacturers, monitor manufacturers, this is a complete upstream and downstream industry chain.

These are all high-end factories that require heavy investments, high technical requirements, and large amounts of patent fees.

If only low-end products can be sold in the market, it is impossible to maintain the profit margin of the entire industry chain.

It is foreseeable that by that time, a large number of related manufacturers will begin to go bankrupt.

According to Microsoft China market researchers, this process will probably last about ten years.

But the technicians are more pessimistic. They believe that in five years at most, China will be able to reduce the cost of low-end quantum simulation computers to less than 10,000 yuan, and even launch DIY accessory assembly.

Five years... or at most five years...

This is just the PC market. It is clear that quantum simulation computers will seize the more profitable server market more quickly.

This also means that the Windows market will gradually shrink. Currently, Microsoft's only advantage is probably that it is still one of the most successful gaming companies in the world.

If we start to actively embrace quantum simulation technology now, especially with the help of virtual projection technology, and develop adapted games, it may be a way out.

We can’t just hang ourselves on the same tree as Intel and Nvidia!
At the critical moment, he must have the determination to take drastic measures.

Thinking of this, he immediately called his secretary.

"Stay up all night tonight. Go and notify everyone now that an emergency board meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Washington time! Everyone must attend. Tell them that this meeting will determine whether Microsoft will go bankrupt in ten years."

After making the decision, Brad Smith felt much calmer.

At this moment, he began to feel lucky that he had not met Qiao Yu too early. If the talks had failed before, it would have been embarrassing to bow down again.

He even made up his mind that if the board did not accept his ideas, he would resign today.

Whoever wants to sit in the position of president or CEO can sit there! Even if he doesn't want that little bit of stock, he won't play anymore!
(End of this chapter)