I'm Trapped in the Block

Chapter 298: Chapter 295: Forbidden Technology

Mo Ling pushed the electronic screen out.

The rather profound-sounding summary left him feeling very awkward and filled with doubt.

’How did these supposedly banned robots end up in the Abyss? And they even seem to have official approval. Could it be... that news report is already outdated?’

’Have we entered the age of intelligent machines long ago?’

Mo Ling wasn’t from this era to begin with. He could only imagine the development of such technology, with no clear idea of the current standards.

Outside the Block, Li Luo held the electronic screen and slowly began to explain the inside story of the report to Mo Ling:

”This isn’t an official news report. It was written by opponents of Yuanxin Technology. They’ve always been against Yuanxin Technology using things obtained from the Abyss to advance human civilization.”

”Even if these weren’t intelligent machines, just some kind of children’s toy, they would still oppose it. You should be able to notice that this report is very subjective and highly inflammatory.”

Hearing Li Luo’s words, Mo Ling, inside the Block, nodded.

No wonder he found the news report so strange. Both the text and the photos had been deliberately manipulated and were highly misleading.

Anyone who clicked on the report could easily be misled by the highly ”immersive” photos and subheadings.

To be honest, Mo Ling had no idea if the news report was true.

’Could it be that the sixth-generation intelligent machines weren’t actually banned?’

’Did the government only investigate the legitimacy of Yuanxin Technology’s tech, and the opponents took it out of context?’

’If that were the case, the appearance of sixth-generation intelligent machines on the Paradise wouldn’t be so incomprehensible.’

But Li Luo’s next words negated that speculation.

”The sixth-generation intelligent machines were indeed banned by the authorities, and the ban is very strict.”

Not long after the authorities began their investigation into Yuanxin Technology, the sixth-generation intelligent machines were completely banned. The entire project was disbanded, and all existing robots were systematically destroyed—in fact, it was even more severe than what the opponents claimed.

Furthermore, all information was suppressed, forbidding anyone from learning about the sixth-generation intelligent machines through any channel.

Yuanxin Technology’s press conference didn’t make any waves at all. There was hardly any news coverage. If the opponents hadn’t been watching them so closely, no one would have even known about it.

For that very reason, the articles written by these opponents became the only remaining records of the event.

So that’s how it was. Realization dawned on Mo Ling.

However, Mo Ling was also very curious. What exactly did the authorities find after entering Yuanxin Technology that made them react so strongly?

’Was it another dangerous relic?’

Mo Ling thought back to the news report. Some of its views couldn’t be called entirely biased; in some respects, they made a lot of sense.

Perhaps the authorities determined that humanity was not yet ready to bear the price of sixth-generation intelligent machines, which was why they ordered the ban.

’But how would Li Luo know about this classified information?’

Just as this question arose in his mind, Mo Ling suddenly recalled the building in the photos.

’Isn’t that the building where Li Luo lives?’

He had seen this building before when he entered the dreamscape and had even climbed it. It was just that he had caused trouble in so many buildings back then that his memory was a bit hazy.

However, he was certain he hadn’t mistaken this particular building.

This was the building Li Luo lived in.

’Is Li Luo from Yuanxin Technology?’

That would explain everything. It was how she knew this information, which was hidden from outsiders, and how she was able to find this surviving report among the classified files.

As expected, Li Luo proceeded to reveal more inside information:

”The ones that were systematically destroyed were all complete units. However, Yuanxin Technology still had some experimental machine components. These components were mixed in with the previous generation’s products in the warehouse and survived.”

The authorities’ operation at the time was massive. Not only did they destroy the machines, but they also completely eradicated all data related to the sixth-generation intelligent machines. Yuanxin Technology’s entire database was searched from top to bottom.

But because these components weren’t significantly different from the previous generation’s, the authorities didn’t designate them for destruction.

At the time, Yuanxin Technology even proactively informed the authorities of these components’ existence. But after testing them, the authorities determined that the machines were no different from the previous generation and allowed them to be kept.

No one knew what testing methods the authorities used, but as long as they deemed there was no hidden risk, Yuanxin Technology certainly wasn’t going to ask any more questions.

Afterward, Yuanxin Technology gathered these experimental components but didn’t continue the research. They merely applied some of the technology to other product lines.

These big corporations don’t clash head-on with the authorities. A banned project has no value; they abandon what needs to be abandoned.

Besides, the technology they’d developed wouldn’t be lost. They could just apply it to other product projects, slap on a new name, and sell it for a good price.

The data for the ”Digital Brain” technology was destroyed, but other associated technologies could still be used. Pieced together, they could create a new product, just without the flashy selling point.

The controversy over the sixth-generation intelligent machines ended there, and Yuanxin Technology didn’t let the incident affect its public reputation.

Before long, the ”All-New Robot Home Gold Edition Plus” was released, sparking another buying frenzy.

And so, the sixth-generation intelligent machines became mere dust in the past, forgotten by all.

After recounting these past events, Li Luo sighed with a sense of resignation.

”This kind of thing happens often. The authorities don’t forbid research on the Abyss, so many companies get into situations like this. This wasn’t the first time Yuanxin Technology had to deal with a tech ban, so they’re very experienced.”

”But those technologies are gone forever, completely and utterly forgotten...”

No one could bear such a cost. Companies want to make money, secure their market, and develop steadily. They don’t want to fight the authorities, nor are they foolish enough to gamble with unknown consequences.

When the risk is too high, the best solution is to cut your losses.

Mo Ling could understand their actions. It was a shame, but it avoided an even greater risk.

However, that still didn’t explain the robots on this ship.

Why would the supposedly forgotten sixth-generation intelligent machines appear on the Paradise, and as the ”captain,” no less?

When Mo Ling wrote his question on the electronic screen for Li Luo, she too was stumped.

”I don’t know what happened after that, and I don’t know the whereabouts of those experimental machine components. Who would take such a huge risk to continue researching a banned technology?”

A perplexed expression appeared on her face.

”But I wouldn’t mistake those robots. They are Yuanxin Technology’s sixth-generation intelligent machines. I’m absolutely sure of their design, but I can’t yet tell what their core programming is like.”

”Over the next few days, I’m going to slowly approach them. You remember to be careful, too. Don’t go running around.”

Li Luo patted the Block and said in a very serious tone.