Chapter 399: Photonic Crystal Chip

"Zhi Nao Tai Yuan, why ask this question?" Chen Boshi frowned slightly at the question.

"Doctor, I want to know about Tai Yuan because when I first traveled to the cultivation world, Tai Yuan's subsystem helped immensely—I'd like to understand it better," Wang Yu replied without changing expression.

"The origins of Tai Yuan are somewhat complex, but I can reveal a little about it—just a brief introduction. Are you certain you want to ask this?" Chen Boshi said slowly, as if holding back something.

"Complex origins? Isn't this something made by China?" Wang Yu sensed something unusual and asked again, surprised.

"No, it was made by China, and it hasn't even been around for many years," Chen Boshi shook his head.

"Then I still want to hear about Tai Yuan," Wang Yu said after a moment's thought.

Tai Yuan's system had long since become his greatest asset in the cultivation world—he could not let this rare chance to learn more slip away.

"Since you insist, there's no problem. I say Tai Yuan's origins are complex because although Zhi Nao Tai Yuan was manufactured in your China, its core—the photonic crystal chip—was brought from our future Blue Star."

"Not just Tai Yuan—even the top AIs of Britain and several other nations are built the same way," Chen Boshi said slowly.

"Doctor, weren't you all consciousness-transcending into this era? How could you bring physical objects along?" Wang Yu, who had experienced multiple consciousness transferences, immediately spotted the flaw in his words and asked in surprise.

"You don't understand. 'Photonic crystal chip' is just a casual term—the correct name is 'Personal Photonic Brain Auxiliary System.'"

"This device was the greatest invention of our era, and the very reason our Blue Star humanity could barely maintain order and avoid total societal collapse during the great catastrophe."

"On future Blue Star, nearly every human consciousness is bound to one of these."

"It can be your capable assistant in daily life and work, your teacher in learning, and even a psychiatrist who comforts you when your mental or emotional state falters."

"In short, this Personal Photonic Brain Auxiliary System is, in the future, second only to life itself for every Alliance citizen. Without it bound to your consciousness, you cannot move a single step on future Blue Star, nor will the Alliance recognize you as a citizen."

"If you still can't grasp it, think of it as the ultimate version of the Tai Yuan subsystem you've used. But the Tai Yuan subsystem you've used, compared to this photonic crystal chip, is utterly incomparable," Chen Boshi said after a pause, giving a brief explanation of the photonic crystal chip.

"So this photonic crystal chip is essentially like every person carrying an invisible personal AI on them," Wang Yu said after listening, drawing in a sharp breath—he suddenly understood what his own Tai Yuan subsystem truly was, and why he'd seen those strange symbols flicker in Chen Boshi's pupils earlier.

The man truly carried a system.

"'Personal AI' isn't quite accurate. The photonic crystal chip itself has only minimal computational power—it can only perform complex simulations and calculations after linking to a 'Super Photonic Brain' and receiving proper authorization."

"Super Photonic Brain"

Wang Yu felt he'd just heard something entirely new, and couldn't help interjecting.

"I can't tell you much about the Super Photonic Brain. Just imagine it as a special AI with computational power approaching infinity."

"As for the photonic crystal chips used in Tai Yuan and other AIs, they were left behind by our companions who died during the transference."

"Although their basic computational power seems negligible to us, to today's Blue Star, they are epoch-making."

"To avoid wasting them, we used these photonic crystal chips as cores to help you develop Tai Yuan and other AIs."

"These AIs are already a rudimentary form of photonic brain—the second greatest gift we've given your era, after mechs."

"In recent years, the astonishing technological advances by major Blue Star powers have been impossible without the aid of these rudimentary photonic brains."

"Otherwise, every nation's R&D and implementation would be at least several times slower, since these systems already possess basic simulation and analytical capabilities," Chen Boshi said slowly.

"Simulation and analytical capabilities?" Wang Yu's face twisted slightly upon hearing the doctor's final words.

"Yes. Theoretically, given sufficient data as reference, all photonic brains can simulate anything—only the speed and accuracy vary according to their computational power," Chen Boshi said seriously for the first time.

"Can these photonic brains really simulate anything?" Wang Yu's eyes flickered slightly.

"Theoretically, yes—but who can guarantee that every piece of data fed into the photonic brain is 100% accurate, with zero deviation?"

"Even one error in a billion data points could lead to results wildly off the mark."

"Therefore, any result derived from photonic brain simulations is, theoretically, never absolutely correct—we simply accept the margin of error as tolerable and treat the outcome as correct," Chen Boshi replied slowly.

Wang Yu fell silent, memories of using Tai Yuan's simulation function flashing through his mind.

"Thank you, Doctor. I think I understand now what Tai Yuan is—but I have one more question: given such powerful analytical capabilities, could these photonic brains develop true self-awareness?" Wang Yu pondered, then voiced his deepest concern.

"Don't worry—it's absolutely impossible."

"No matter how powerful a photonic brain's simulation and analysis, it's still just an AI. Even if it seems to have various personalities, those are merely data models implanted by humans. Rest assured," Chen Boshi said without hesitation.

Wang Yu watched the doctor's resolute expression. Though he didn't know the source of the man's confidence, he still felt doubtful.

After all, Blue Star's countless movies and novels had endlessly depicted AIs gaining autonomy and wiping out humanity.

That was precisely why, deep down, he always felt an inexplicable unease about his own system.

And now another question arose.

Why had this Tai Yuan subsystem bound itself to his consciousness out of nowhere? Had something gone wrong during his first consciousness transference?

Was this problem unique to him—or had it happened to everyone who participated in the first transference?

As Wang Yu's thoughts raced, Chen Boshi's face suddenly twisted into a strange expression before he spoke again:

"Enough. I've answered all your questions. Now it's your turn to answer mine."

"I place great importance on the Sa Tan cultivation world. I've always believed its mysterious forces may be the only means by which Blue Star survived the great catastrophe. That's why, after I transgressed into your era, I insisted on coming to China and took charge of researching Sa Tan."

"After all, the true power of that cultivation world has been witnessed by only a select few in the future—and I was one of them."