Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 389 The magnified behavior and the concern from above.

Another week has passed, and the internet's memory seems to have been swept away by a cold wind. Although the discussions about Jiang Qing are no longer as heated as they were at the beginning, they are still like stubborn undercurrents beneath the surface of a lake, surging up from time to time.

Jiang Qing's every little move recently has been closely watched by countless eyes, scrutinized repeatedly with a magnifying glass, and accompanied by various pessimistic interpretations.

A slightly blurry side profile photo of him, taken by a passerby, has circulated online.

In the photo, he is wearing a simple black down jacket and walking alone in Wuwen Science and Technology Park, with bare sycamore trees in the background.

The marketing account captioned the post: "The former tech luminary is all alone, looking somber as if he has encountered a major setback?"

The comments section offered in-depth analysis.

"He looks exhausted; he's probably scratching his head in frustration."

"The light in his eyes is gone. He probably thinks acting is easier and his skills can't keep up anymore, hahaha!"

"You seem to be under a lot of pressure!"

"I don't feel like I'm in good shape. I'm so different from how I used to be!"

"Alas, what a tragedy! He was ultimately blinded by the allure of the entertainment industry!"

……

Furthermore, an anonymous source, purportedly an industry insider, claimed that "the internal atmosphere at Wuwen Technology has been oppressive recently, with rumors of arguments within the core team circulating on multiple occasions." Although riddled with inconsistencies, this claim resonated with the public's imagination and was widely disseminated.

Even his habit of always using that old thermos cup, which was photographed, was misinterpreted by some as a symbol of being "in trouble and having no time to spare."

On Zhihu, the top-rated post, "How do you view the downfall of AI genius Jiang Qing?" has attracted a variety of opinions.

Most of the highly-rated answers were sarcastic and pessimistic.

"I swear! Facts speak louder than words, and silence is the best answer. OpenAI has produced a groundbreaking product like ChatGPT3.5, while what can Wuwen Technology and its brilliant founder offer besides silence? Admitting the gap isn't shameful; what's shameful is being obsessed with celebrity status and forgetting our original aspirations!"

"Let's analyze this rationally. Jiang Qing's success is due to the opportunities of the times and his personal talent, but AI research and development is a long-term battle between teams and capital. Although Wuwen Technology has a high valuation, it is still young and lacks sufficient foundation. Facing a giant like OpenAI, its investment is simply incomparable, and it is normal that it cannot cope in the short term. We have to consider realistic factors. Even geniuses are not omnipotent. And I personally think that the so-called geniuses may just have been deified too early."

"Look at how he recently went to the University of Science and Technology of China to give an open course. Isn't this a form of escapism? The real battlefield isn't in the university lecture hall. It just goes to show that different choices lead to different perspectives."

"Some people have mentioned the high praise that foreign institutions and AI leaders have given to Jiang Qing in the past. Let's make a bold assumption: perhaps they just wanted to mislead us, make us in China have high hopes for Jiang Qing, and make him arrogant, complacent, and gradually become unambitious?"

"The analysis upstairs is incredibly imaginative, but you know what, it actually sounds quite plausible!"

……

Of course, there were also some faint but rational voices mixed in.

"Isn't it unnecessary to jump to conclusions so early? Technological development has a cycle, and who can guarantee that Jiang Qing isn't preparing a major breakthrough?"

"Wuwen Technology has many fundamental patents in natural language processing and multimodal learning, and I don't think they would be completely unprepared."

"Wuwen not only has a close relationship with the University of Science and Technology of China, but also has established a joint laboratory with Tsinghua University. Jiang Qing's speech at Tsinghua University received strong support from major universities across the country, and his level is obvious to all."

"Exactly, state media has repeatedly endorsed Jiang Shen's remarks, so his true level is undoubtedly beyond doubt. Maybe...maybe Wuwen Technology's investment is really too far behind that of big companies like OpenAI. Thinking about it carefully, there's nothing we can do about it."

However, these voices are often quickly drowned out by more doubts and comments that are "waiting to see the joke."

Jiang Qing and Wuwen Technology's silence has brought out many demons and monsters who previously dared only hide in the gutter. Under the storm of public opinion, Jiang Qing's personal abilities have been questioned like never before.

December 25th, Christmas Day.

At 1:50 p.m., the largest lecture hall at the University of Science and Technology of China had already transcended the concept of being packed to capacity, transforming into a vibrant and energetic space.

The aisles, windowsills, and both sides of the podium were all packed with people, and many students even stood in the back, making it completely crowded.

The air was filled with the warmth of the heating system, the breathing of the young people, and their excited chatter, all of which contrasted sharply with the pale gray sky outside the window.

At 1:58, a commotion broke out at the classroom door.

Jiang Qing's tall figure appeared at the doorway.

He was wearing a down jacket over a simple white shirt, and holding a highly recognizable thermos cup that read "Wuwen Technology 2018 Annual Meeting Commemoration".

He walked with a calm and unhurried pace, his face bearing his usual relaxed smile, his bright eyes scanning the entire room.

"Dr. Jiang is here!"

That shout instantly ignited the atmosphere.

Almost the instant Jiang Qing stepped onto the stage, enthusiastic applause spontaneously erupted, lasting for nearly half a minute before gradually subsiding at his signal to lower his hand.

Wow, what a spectacle!

Jiang Qing adjusted the microphone, casually took off her down jacket and placed it aside, a noticeable smile curving her lips, her eyes revealing a hint of amusement.

"I almost thought I came here for an end-of-year awards ceremony instead of a class. Or did you all hear there was a surprise in the last class of the semester and came to wait for it?"

A huge burst of laughter immediately erupted from the audience.

"Dr. Jiang, we believe in you!"

"You're the best! They have no idea how valuable Jiang Shen's achievements are!"

"We're waiting for your ultimate move!"

Jiang Qing smiled and gestured with his hand down, his posture elegant and natural.

"Alright, alright, I appreciate your kind words, but if you keep praising me, I'll get arrogant. Let's get back to the point and finish strong. Today, we'll tackle the tough nut of the cognitive boundaries of neural symbolic systems. Anyone who gets distracted and doesn't understand will get double the homework as a reward."

A wailing sound immediately rose from the audience.

After a relaxed opening, the class quickly transitioned into a highly efficient knowledge delivery mode.

Jiang Qing's lectures are logically clear, full of references yet full of humor, and he can explain complex models very thoroughly with a few vivid metaphors.

When he got to the key point, he turned around and wrote on the blackboard. His powerful strokes and beautiful handwriting drew a murmur of admiration, accompanied by the click of a mobile phone camera.

The interactive sessions were even more lively.

The students at the scene eagerly raised their hands, asking questions one after another.

Some asked about technical details, some about industry prospects, and some students even asked playful questions.

"Dr. Jiang, if we use the cognitive model you just mentioned to analyze ChatGPT's dialogue generation logic, do you think it's understanding or imitating?"

Jiang Qing raised an eyebrow, appreciating the question.

“Excellent question! This is where we’ll be exploring the boundaries. It’s currently more like an extremely sophisticated probabilistic simulation, but the seed of understanding has been planted. What we’re doing is figuring out how to make that seed germinate and grow faster.”

He skillfully steered the question back to the main topic of the lesson, sparking another round of lively discussion.

For a full ninety minutes, the classroom maintained this high level of intellectual exchange and a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

This place seems to be a barrier isolated from the outside world; the doubts, ridicule, and worries on the internet have no place here whatsoever.

Only a thirst for knowledge, complete trust in the person on the podium, and a tacit understanding of jointly defending something.

When Jiang Qing closed her lesson plan and announced the end of class, a chorus of sighs of lingering dissatisfaction immediately filled the air.

He picked up his thermos and had just taken a sip of water when a boy in the back row suddenly stood up, his face flushed, and shouted loudly.

"Dr. Jiang! Ignore that nonsense online! We believe you! Everyone at USTC believes in you!"

That shout was like a drop of water thrown into a pot of boiling oil, exploding instantly. "Yes! Go Dr. Jiang!"

"Dr. Jiang, you are the holy son of our USTC sect, we support you unconditionally!"

"Wuwen Technology is awesome!"

"Sooner or later, we'll show them what real strength is!"

……

Voices of support rose and fell, one after another, quickly converging into a powerful torrent that roared and echoed throughout the lecture hall, almost lifting the roof off.

Jiang Qing was somewhat surprised. He paused for a moment, then his smile completely vanished, and he grinned.

He didn't say anything sentimental, but simply bowed solemnly to the audience, and when he raised his head again, his expression was solemn.

Thank you everyone. The best support is to work together to create better things. Happy New Year in advance, and see you next semester!

After saying that, he picked up his things, waved, and walked out of the classroom amidst a sea of ​​scorching gazes.

Some things don't need to be said.

Jiang Qing did not leave the campus immediately.

After walking through several familiar tree-lined paths, he arrived at the administration building where Principal Bao Xinhe's office was located.

After being given permission to open the door, Bao Xinhe was wearing reading glasses and looking at a document.

Upon seeing him, the old man immediately smiled, put down his documents, and took off his glasses.

"Oh, our busybody is here? Just finished class? I could hear all the noise from upstairs, it was like a pot boiling over."

Bao Xinhe smiled and pointed out the window, his tone full of teasing.

"The students were quite enthusiastic and started making a ruckus."

Jiang Qing smiled and walked familiarly to the tea table on one side of the office.

"Do you have any good tea here? I'm thirsty after finishing my lecture."

"Find it yourself. The best one is in the second jar on the left. I know you're a picky eater."

Bao Xinhe also came over and sat down opposite him, watching Jiang Qing skillfully scald the cup, take the tea, and brew it in one smooth motion.

The aroma of tea quickly filled the air, dispelling the slight chill of winter.

After a brief chat about the course, Bao Xinhe picked up his small teacup, blew on it to cool it down, took a sip, and looked at Jiang Qing from above the rim of the cup before casually getting to the point.

“The noise outside has been going on for a while now. When are we going to do something about it? We can’t just let them keep making this racket. My ears are practically calloused from listening to it.”

Jiang Qing was pouring tea into the fairness cup when she heard this. She didn't stop for a moment, just smiled and spoke in a relaxed tone.

"Principal, don't you know me? When have I ever done anything without being sure? I can't just run a hundred meters every time someone blows a whistle. They have to let the stage be set up first, right?"

"Don't try to fool me."

Bao Xinhe chuckled and scolded, put down his teacup, and pointed at him lightly with his finger.

"I know exactly what kind of bad ideas you're up to. I'm just reminding you, once it's almost done, that's enough. If you keep it up for too long, you might really kill people's appetite, or... make some people think you've really run out of things to offer."

"Please rest assured, Principal."

Jiang Qing pushed the tea she had poured in front of Bao Xinhe, a smile playing on her lips, but a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

"Even if the building were to collapse, I would definitely clear myself of any wrongdoing and would never dare to tarnish the prestigious reputation of USTC. Besides, this building is not going to collapse."

"loquacious!"

Bao Xinhe glared at him, but the smile on his face did not fade.

He pondered for a moment, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and became much more serious.

"However, Jiang Qing, the reason I called you here today wasn't entirely my intention, nor was it just to concern myself with the rumors circulating online."

There was a different meaning in his eyes.

"There are people above us who have been paying close attention. The emergence of ChatGPT has caused a huge stir, it can be said to be earth-shattering. Everyone is concerned and anxious about the future of artificial intelligence, about our own technological reserves and responses. Especially you, and your Wuwen Technology. The higher-ups want to know, in the face of this situation, can you actually come up with something? When can you come up with something? Do you need to cooperate? This is related to... confidence on many levels."

The atmosphere in the office subtly became a little more serious.

The sunlight slanted in through the window, casting bright spots of light on the tea table, and even the fine dust particles floating in the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Jiang Qing's relaxed smile faded slightly.

He picked up the teacup in front of him, but didn't drink it immediately. He just stared at the clear, bright tea for a few seconds in silence.

Then, he raised his head and looked at Bao Xinhe with a serious expression.

"Principal, please rest assured, and please convey this message to the higher-ups. Wuwen Technology has never stopped moving forward, and we understand better than anyone the responsibility on our shoulders and the weight of the expectations placed upon us. Technological breakthroughs take time, and even more so, the right opportunity. But please believe that Wuwen has never let us down, and we will not let you down this time either. Soon, we will present clear results to everyone."

His tone was calm and composed, no longer carrying any hint of jest.

Jiang Qing did not give a specific date or describe any grand plans, but the certainty in his words was as solid as a rock.

Bao Xinhe stared intently into his eyes, as if scrutinizing the weight of every word in his speech.

A moment later, the old man slowly leaned back in his chair, a completely relaxed smile appearing on his face. He nodded slowly and let out a long sigh.

"Good, good. With you saying that, I feel more at ease, and the higher-ups... can rest assured for now."

He picked up his teacup again, his tone returning to its previous ease, but with a deeper expectation.

"Right now, there are plenty of eyes watching your next move. This fire is burning brightly. We're just waiting to see whether you'll pour oil on it or throw water on it."

Jiang Qing smiled, as if she had everything under control.

"Of course. The script has been written long ago, just waiting for the opening gong. This play has to be a resounding success."

"Then I'll wait and see."

Bao Xinhe raised his teacup and gestured to him.

"You'll see."

Jiang Qing also raised her teacup and swirled it.

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

The aroma of tea lingered, while the sky outside the window gradually darkened.

The conversation between the two was uneventful, but a certain weight had already quietly settled, and a certain expectation was silently accumulating.

Inside the window, it was warm as spring.

Outside the window, winter remains.

But a certain thaw in the ice seems to be faintly audible.

(End of this chapter)