Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 101 We Must Change the World

Umbrella's current business, while not entirely unrelated to the electronics industry, is certainly completely unrelated.

One is biotechnology, and the other is the electronics industry; they don't seem to be in the same boat at all.

Like Boris Johnson's predictions for the Umbrella Corporation's future, Patrick also believes that a vertically integrated approach is better suited to Umbrella's development.

Therefore, although Patrick followed Murphy's instructions to look into Murphy's idea of ​​"entering the electronics industry," he never supported it.

The leap is too big. Umbrella has absolutely no experience in this area, while the chip industry is one that requires a great deal of technological accumulation. For Umbrella to break into it in its current state is like a rabbit entering a wolf's den—a pure waste of resources.

But in Murphy's view, this was something he had to do.

Why enter the electronics industry?

It's because technology is developing too slowly these days!

In fact, although the technology industry today is not as dynamic as it will be thirty years from now, it has already developed rapidly enough. It is no exaggeration to describe the electronics industry as changing with each passing day.

But Murphy comes from the future, and in his view, current technologies are still far from sufficient.

For example, the gene sequencing technology that the Transformation Research Group desperately needs is still in its infancy. If we were to do it 30 years from now, we wouldn't need to guess what new genes Boris has added after he becomes a vampire. We could just do a whole-genome sequencing on him and compare it with the human genome and the bat genome. The similarities and differences would be immediately apparent.

For example, the spell research group's measurement of spell effects is hampered by the measurement accuracy issues of various physical sensors and the lack of non-invasive human sensors. This makes it difficult to measure the brainwaves and nerve potentials of wizards, and thus makes it impossible to conduct further quantitative analysis of the relationship between wizards and spells.

Future CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, super-resolution microscopy, optogenetics, computer simulation, and various analytical techniques will be a huge help in scientific research, greatly accelerating the research process.

In his previous life, he only graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science and had never dealt with these technologies. He had heard of the names, but he knew nothing about what they were.

If he wants these technologies to reappear in this world, there is only one way—to honestly accelerate the technological progress of the entire world and let the top experts in various fields redevelop these technologies.

The only industry capable of accelerating all technological research is the electronics industry.

Smaller transistors, more circuits, faster computing speeds, larger storage, more complex algorithms... ultimately lead to more accurate data, more complete theories, and more advanced technologies.

The technological train that will accelerate rapidly over the next thirty years will be speeding along the silicon crystal track.

Moore's Law is the ironclad rule for technological progress in the world over the next thirty years.

Therefore, Murphy's logic is very clear.

To better study magic, we need more advanced technology; to have more advanced technology, we need faster computers; and to have faster computers, we need better chips.

Better chips will either have to be left to develop naturally decades later, or Murphy will have to build them himself.

But he couldn't give Patrick this reason.

"I have a positive outlook on this industry," was the only answer he could give.

This reasoning clearly failed to convince Patrick, but instead of arguing, the latter asked, "Are you sure you want to enter this industry?"

"Sure."

Patrick nodded. "Then let's think of another way. Do you have any specific ideas?"

The chip industry is huge, and the electronics industry is even bigger. Patrick wanted to ask Murphy which specific area he wanted to work on.

"certainly."

"We'll start with chips, building a semi-industry chain from IP core design to IC architecture to chip manufacturing, and then expand to the entire chip industry chain. At the same time, we also need to make inroads into personal computers and other personal electronic products. On the software side, we need to build our own system and application environment because, according to my vision, our chip architecture is ahead of its time and cannot be compatible with existing hardware and software."

Patrick listened and felt that his boss was either crazy or a visionary even more ambitious than Steve Jobs.

Isn't this just Intel plus Apple plus Microsoft?

A single chip is already a huge burden, let alone building a completely new computer and software system. Aren't these three companies incredibly expensive?

"Just one more question, can the company buy back my shares?" Patrick asked.

Murphy chuckled. "Trying to run away?"

"With your plan, who wouldn't want to run away? If I don't run, I'm afraid I'll lose so much money I won't even be able to afford my pants," Patrick complained.

"How about we just focus on computers? We can develop them using existing chips and systems, as long as we do a good job with the design," Patrick said.

His idol, Steve Jobs, did just that in the beginning.

Apple started out as nothing more than a computer assembly shop.

"No way!" Murphy refused outright.

Do I lack money? What use would I have for something like Lenovo?

"Patrick, don't you understand?" He looked at his partner and said earnestly, "I'm not going to fill my own pockets with some fancy sales techniques or unique pricing strategies. We must drive technological progress! We must change the world!!"

Patrick was stunned.

Changing the world...

How similar this is to what his idol once said!

He felt as if he had returned to two years ago, and saw that boy who had suddenly walked into his office...

Hmm? Young man?

The guy in front of me clearly looks more like a young man...

But this is not important.

Patrick felt his passion reignite.

Yes, he actually forgot.

Did he give up his position at Blue Mountain Company to start from scratch with a penniless boy for money?

Is it so that I can live out the rest of my life in comfort and pleasure?

No, it's not!

He saw something great, and he saw the possibility of changing the world through that great thing.

He wanted to participate in the creation of that great thing, to make his life a legend—even if only a small part of it.

"I understand," Patrick said calmly.

"But what about the funding? Should we keep selling Umbrella Corporation shares?"

Due to its incredible ability to attract capital, Umbrella Corporation's overall valuation has soared. If Murphy were willing to forgo an IPO, Umbrella could immediately join the ranks of multi-billion pound super-corporations.

However, going public means being subject to more stringent supervision and regulation, which Murphy is unwilling to do and will also bring a lot of trouble to the protection umbrella.

"It's not impossible, but I don't want to touch Umbrella's shares for the time being, but Isis Pharmaceuticals and Camelot are fine."

The Umbrella Corporation cannot go public, but if two subsidiaries go public, the impact on the Umbrella Corporation will not be so great. If each subsidiary raises about 20% of its shares through public offering, it will not affect control. This is a feasible way to raise funds quickly.

"Let's go through the procedures first and see if it's suitable. But the chip factory matter can't be delayed. Let's find some experts to do an evaluation and come up with a plan. I want to know what work needs to be done and how much investment is required to build a chip manufacturing production line that has never been done before from scratch."

Patrick looked at Murphy. The man had the same composure he had when they first met, but at the same time, something seemed different about him. It was as if he was shrouded in an even more mysterious veil. He found it increasingly difficult to understand his boss.

"Fine, since you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you anymore. However, you still need to think it through. The world's richest and smartest people are all crammed into the electronics industry. What makes us think we can do better than them?"

(End of this chapter)