thenovelthief Chapter 159
Chapter 159
Translator: Dreamscribe"Wow. The response seems really good, doesn't it?"
“The most common reaction is that this feels like magic. All the social media platforms and media outlets are buzzing about it.”
There were exactly two pieces of news shaking up this year’s end.
One was Argentina's Messi finally achieving football immortality by lifting the World Cup trophy in Qatar.
And the other was the unveiling of XPT-3.
“I’ve tried it myself, and it’s so good I couldn’t tell whether it was really AI or if there was a person behind it answering directly.”
“Especially developers seem to be the most shocked. It writes code on its own, translates, and even writes essays and research papers.”
However, just as Close AI said, this is still only an early version.
XPT-3 is a trial version, and the next version is said to be the real deal.
“We’ll be able to try the next version in advance. Close AI is going to let us use the version they’re currently developing before it gets released.”
“Oh my. There was an even better version than this?”
“Yes. Since there are still many parts that need to be fixed before it can be made public, they’re only letting company insiders use it for now.”
Close AI currently possesses a much more advanced version of XPT than the one that has been released.
But they can’t release it to the public all at once, because they want to gradually modify and upgrade it, and if they suddenly release a version that’s too advanced, it could cause social disruption.
“Remember when they released XPT-2, and it turned out it could generate fake news in bulk, so they had to immediately pull it back to private mode?”
There’s been a lot of history with XPT.
When XPT-1 was first released, the public reaction was lukewarm.
Then, with the release of version 2, its significantly improved performance and the quality that made it hard to distinguish from real news articles led someone to create and spread hundreds of fake news stories.
After that, the release was delayed for a while, and now they’ve finally introduced XPT-3.
Since it’s a model several times more powerful than XPT-2, it was obvious that even more convincing fake content would flood the scene.
However, it was now believed that the world had reached a point where it had to accept AI.
“But the development speed is faster than I thought.”
"Yes. Originally, they were going to release each version as it came out, but the development speed has gained more momentum than expected. It's probably because you've been continuously providing investment funds, and also because we've been expanding servers. Above all, the development scope has expanded as we've been doing deep learning through the platforms we're currently managing."
This stage of development wasn’t originally planned for XPT.
But with Kwangwoon’s consistent investments, server expansion, and most critically, training AI through all the platforms we currently have, its development capabilities rapidly improved.
“So now, Close AI and our affiliates are thinking about how to integrate AI and evolve together.”
“In what way?”
“For example, in the case of KW Exchange, we could use XPT for real-time chart analysis. PicPic could use AI to find desired videos, and even FaceWeb, which we recently acquired, could enable AI-generated writing.”
On top of that, collaborating with Kangseong Electronics to enable comprehensive AI use through mobile phones was also one method.
“They also believe that mobile is the best way to ride the AI trend. Everyone has a phone, and if XPT runs constantly on it, people will end up using that exclusively.”
In other words, the idea was to preoccupy the market.
Close AI had already shared this point with me.
Once XPT was released, it was certain that copycat versions would spring up like mushrooms after rain, and that major companies like Google would inevitably catch up with AI technology. No, perhaps they might even release a better version.
“There are two possible strategies. One is to work with Kangseong Electronics to embed XPT into every smartphone first and aim for a market preemption effect. But if Google later develops its own AI, it’s highly likely that ours will be replaced.”
“And the other?”
“To further enhance our development capabilities. The release of XPT-3 is essentially a test to solidify the development of the next version.”
The more users there are, the more data will be collected, which then becomes the material to create the next version.
“So the idea is to pull far ahead from the start so that other companies won’t even dare to surpass XPT’s performance?”
“Yes. While they’re still making arrows, we’re completing a machine gun. If we completely dominate with technology, no one will find an alternative to XPT, and in the end, everyone will end up using our company’s AI.”
Therefore, what mattered to us now was the platform.
Social media, KW Exchange, Enflix, mobile, and so on.
We needed to fully utilize the platforms we owned to get as many people as possible to use XPT.
“Yes, that sounds promising. But the issue is that as we expand the platforms, usage will inevitably double, which leads to server issues.”
Expanding platforms and getting everyone to use XPT along with our KW Coin was a good strategy, but ultimately, we were bound to run into real-world problems.
“Now that more people are using XPT than expected, server issues are gradually beginning to appear. And if XPT’s performance improves even further from here, it’s expected to become a much bigger issue.”
“We’re currently using all the servers we can, right?”
“Yes. We used to have plenty of room, but the situation changed once we acquired FaceWeb. Originally, we were using BWS, but now FaceWeb is using Kwangwoon’s servers.”
“So that means we need to expand.”
“Yes. Server expansion is urgent. But even though semiconductors are being produced intensively, the demand is so high that it doesn’t seem easy to build servers quickly.”
This was an issue that needed to be discussed.
Even if we greatly expanded services, we couldn’t run them without servers- that was unacceptable.
“Oh right. How are things going in Nigeria?”
“Yes. I’ve been receiving constant updates. Fortunately, our foundation staff have arrived safely and started volunteer work.”
“What about the security personnel?”
“Sentinel has dispatched as many security staff as possible. The Nigerian government also fully welcomed them after hearing that we brought in donations worth several hundred billion won.”
“That’s faster progress than I expected.”
“Yes. It seems Director Anthony is quite capable. I thought it would take a while, but seeing how smoothly everything is proceeding, I’m impressed.”
There was a reason my intuition led me to appoint this person as director.
“Is the security situation in Nigeria okay?”
“Unfortunately, it’s reportedly gotten worse recently. Criminal organizations from around the world are swarming into Africa, and Nigeria has also suffered from that. More than anything, the civil war has worsened, and the atmosphere there is very tense.”
“I’m worried about the foundation staff.”
“Yes. That’s why Sentinel is providing extra security. But truthfully, it is worrisome. Even the local government there seems unstable these days.”
The government?
What kind of issue could there be on that front?
“Apparently, due to the current civil war, a few politicians have suddenly gone missing.”
***
“Chairman. Whiterock and Wingard have sent a final ultimatum.”
“What?”
“Now that Bluezone’s market capitalization has dropped to 400 billion dollars, they’re demanding to know how you’ll take responsibility, and how you plan to overcome this crisis. If you fail to present a convincing plan or vision...”
“If I don’t?”
“They say they’ll remove you from the chairman position and hand the company over to Kwangwoon.”
“W-What!?”
Rainjof slammed the table forcefully.
Ah. Now the regret was setting in. If he had known it would come to this, he should've secured control with dual-class shares!
“Of course, the absence of dual-class shares did help Bluezone’s stock rise higher. It was your vision, Chairman, to lead the company through trust and communication with shareholders.”
That was true as well.
Had dual-class shares been implemented, the stock price would have likely fallen further, and it might have taken much longer to join the trillion-dollar club.
“But this mess still happened in the end. Wingard and Whiterock. Those bastards never get involved in management. And now they stab us in the back like this?”
“They’re still fund managers who invest other people’s money. When the stock drops this much, the clients who invested in the fund will start complaining, and then they have no choice but to act.”
The problem was that their influence was far too great.
Don’t they each hold over 20% of the shares?
“What if Kwangwoon launches a public tender offer? The stock price will bounce back, won’t it?”
“That’s the issue. Kwangwoon is buying up shares just under the threshold where a tender offer would be triggered. And behind the scenes, they keep stirring up issues to drive the stock price down.”
“Shouldn’t the U.S. government step in?”
“That’s complicated. Bluezone’s public sentiment is already poor due to mass layoffs, and the slump in performance that started earlier wasn’t Kwangwoon’s fault.”
In short, Kwangwoon was slowly eating away at Bluezone without ever crossing the line.
“Just like they did with FaceWeb, they’re pressuring the shareholders. Are you going to sit back and watch the company’s value keep dropping, or are you going to act now and save it?”
"Then why not use a poison pill?"
Poison pill.
A mechanism triggered by the board to defend against hostile takeovers.
It gives existing shareholders the right to buy new shares at an extremely low price, forcibly diluting the ownership percentage of the hostile party. This makes acquisition costs skyrocket.
“That won’t work. It could provoke strong backlash from existing shareholders. While it might raise the company’s value short-term, the aftereffects will definitely drive it even lower.”
Rainjof had actually spent all night thinking about this.
Why was Kwangwoon targeting Bluezone, of all companies, leaving others alone?
He found the answer after seeing the newly released XPT.
What those bastards ultimately wanted wasn’t Bluezone itself.
It was BWS, Bluezone’s massive server infrastructure.
That was what they were really after.
“They’re not interested in running the company. They’re after the giant servers we built. You saw XPT, right? It’s incredible. But to roll that out to people around the world, they’ll need massive server facilities.”
Rainjof realized this only after seeing XPT.
The space industry was fine, but it would take far too long to see profits.
What if he had invested that money in AI instead?
Judging by current trends, the AI industry was poised to grow even more explosively than space.
“But if they want to monopolize AI, they need vast server capacity. Without it, operations would be impossible. That’s why they’re after our company. And knowing all this, are we just going to sit back and let the company fall into their hands?”
That’s why Rainjof could never let go of Bluezone.
If even Bluezone fell into Kwangwoon’s hands, then from that moment on, those bastards would become unstoppable.
“We are the final line of defense. If we fall too, Kwangwoon’s ambitions will no longer be containable. That’s why we must use the poison pill to at least block the acquisition.”
“.......”
“You all agree with me, don’t you?”
With the release of XPT, Kwangwoon had opened the gates to the age of AI.
Rainjof had been stunned by the capabilities of that AI.
Even if it still seemed lacking in many areas now, no one could have imagined just last year that an AI of such performance would exist today.
And if Kwangwoon were to acquire this large-scale server facility and throw everything into AI development? Then in the soon-to-arrive AI era, Kwangwoon would stand at the very forefront, and other competitors wouldn’t even be able to breathe.
Furthermore, the space industry that Rainjof was currently running could also likely end up in Kwangwoon’s hands someday.
That’s why it must be protected.
This final line of defense.
“Then I’ll take that as everyone’s agreement and......”
“That won’t do.”
“What?”
But all the executives were staring at Chairman Rainjof with resolute eyes.
“We can’t just stand by and watch you permanently destroy the value of Bluezone.”
“What did I just say? Kwangwoon has no interest in the value of our company. What they want is only......!”
“The servers? Sure, maybe. But Kwangwoon has never once discarded a subsidiary they acquired. On the contrary, they’ve been incorporating KW Coin and AI functions into all their platforms. That would be the same for Bluezone.”
The atmosphere was turning serious.
If the executives were openly rebelling like this, what could it mean?
“Don’t tell me...... Wingard and Whiterock have already defected?”
“Yes.”
“But earlier you said it was a final ultimatum? That they were giving me one last chance?”
"You just blew that chance. We've already come here after voting in favor of changing this company's owner."
“!?”
Rainjof’s hands began to tremble violently.
"N-now listen, everyone. Calm down. You can't trust Kwangwoon!"
“No. In fact, compared to you, Chairman, Kwangwoon shows more promise for the future. The stock price that’s plummeted now will eventually recover thanks to them. Judging by the business potential they’re showing, it’s more than possible.”
A Bluezone equipped with KW Coin and XPT.
A Bluezone connected to countless Kwangwoon platforms.
“Wouldn’t that look far more passionate and ambitious than a chairman who’s selling off shares for the sake of the space industry?”
“.......”
With that, the directors all stood from their seats.
“Please vacate the Chairman’s Office as soon as possible. After informing Kwangwoon of our decision, we’ll be appointing a new chairman in your place.”