The bomb dropped by Jiangnan Group was seen as entertainment by ordinary people, while professionals began to study the requirements and mutter, "Does such a perverted material really exist in the world?"
Meanwhile, major chip companies worldwide were already holding meetings.
"Gentlemen, you are all professionals. What do you think of the material mentioned in Jiangnan Technology's bounty?" asked the head of technology at Intel, a leading global chip industry enterprise, during an internal meeting.
"This is a scam. Such a material cannot exist in the world! And it's a material released by a Chinese company. I think this is a complete hoax! I don't believe China can produce such a bizarre material," said a stern-faced man with glasses and a cross around his neck, in an equally serious tone.
He was known as an old-fashioned fossil in the research department, rigid in his thinking but rich in experience. His development efficiency was 3 to 5 times that of other employees, and he could often identify bugs at a glance, making him a key part of the company's R&D.
Therefore, to him, such a chip material with a bizarre structure was impossible!
"I don't think so!" said another man in a suit. "Although Jiangnan Group is a Chinese company and has only been established for two years, they have indeed achieved some technological breakthroughs in storage chips. We still cannot crack these technologies, but we can be sure that these are material-related technologies. Therefore, Jiangnan Group has certain technological accumulation in materials!"
"And according to the data released by Jiangnan Group, this material should not have been produced under human control, but rather developed under some accidental conditions, forming these natural chip characteristics!"
"As we all know, accident is God's domain. So many technologies in the world have been driven by God's accidents. It's not impossible that God occasionally throws an accident to the Chinese."
"Most importantly, Jiangnan Group has no reason to do such a thing. I really cannot see any benefit for them to deliberately publicize a fake material, let alone offer a bounty of $100 million. It brings no advantage to a company!"
"So I believe Jiangnan Group's statement. I think the truth is that Jiangnan Group accidentally created this special material, but God's gift is only this much. The Chinese are simply incapable of developing the corresponding chip architecture and can only embarrassingly throw this material online, soliciting global technical help with a huge bounty. They even proactively sent relevant information to our company, hoping that Intel would help them develop the architecture. It's utterly ridiculous."
"Alas, we can't say that. It's not their fault, it's just the sorrow of a weak nation!" another researcher waved his hand sympathetically and said, "So, this technology and material are best left to great nations like ours to bring out their true value!"
"So, you two both believe this material is real?" the head of the technology department asked with a frown.
"This is Schrödinger's cat. Until we see the real material, no one can be sure if this cat is dead or alive!" the suited researcher said. "If this cat is dead, then it has nothing to do with us. But if this cat is alive, and the Chinese really possess this magical material, then we need to control this material ourselves and fully understand its characteristics. Otherwise, if the Chinese really complete the corresponding architecture, we will be surpassed in cutting-edge chip production technology by those ridiculous Chinese."
"You think this material can surpass our chips in the future?" the supervisor pressed.
"Not 'possibly,' but 'definitely,' as long as this material exists and the architecture problem is solved!" the suited researcher continued. "I've spent all last night studying all the available information."
"Assuming all this information is true, then the potential of this special material is terrifying. The fact that the number of semiconductors is equivalent to a 48nm process lithography machine means this material has far more computing power than our current top-tier chips!"
"Secondly, according to the published conductivity data of this material, its power consumption is about 1/3 lower than our artificially manufactured chips. This means energy consumption and heat generation are also reduced by more than 1/3. I believe you all understand how terrifying this is!"
"And the magical circuit connections between these semiconductors. The most advanced architecture we currently design has only three connections between semiconductors. This doesn't mean three lines are the optimal solution, but rather that with our current human design capabilities and semiconductor characteristics, we can only support chips with three connections."
"But now, with this material's power consumption being only 1/3 and having five natural connection lines, it implies higher computational possibilities. If such an architecture were truly invented, then even with the same number of semiconductors, chips with this new architecture would have at least twice the computing power of ours!"
"Finally, there's the damn price set by the Chinese. These barbarians only know how to seize markets with low prices. And this barbaric nation happens to have the highest quality but lowest cost technical workers in the world. Their product costs are naturally much lower than ours."
"Otherwise, those guys in production wouldn't have the damn idea of wanting to build factories in China."
"These Chinese people don't know that maintaining high prices in the market is the best choice for maximizing profits!"
"If they really research and develop such chips, they will definitely be priced lower than us in the future..."
"Gentlemen, imagine this: after a few years, when the Chinese come up with chips that have several times our computing power, only one-third of our power consumption, and about 20% lower prices, how will the market choose? Will Intel still have a future then?" As this person finished speaking, a sense of dread filled the entire conference room, as they found the scenario absolutely terrifying.
"You are completely fear-mongering!" the old-fashioned fossil who spoke first snorted. "Last month, I attended the latest technology exchange conference hosted by Nikon. At this conference, Nikon unveiled a brand-new lithography machine solution, which is said to be capable of reaching the 40nm process level."
"Similarly, TSMC and ASML have launched similar products. ASML promised to deliver the first finished product for sale in 2005. Although Nikon will be a bit later, it will only be in 2006. By then, the market will be flooded with 40nm-level lithography machines. The special material developed by the Chinese is no longer behind!"
"And if it's really a special material created by chance, as you say, then this material cannot be improved. It can only have so many semiconductors throughout its life. So what's there to worry about? Even if the Chinese really develop it, it will probably be more than 10 years from now, and we might already have 20nm-level lithography machines!"
"How do you know it will take the Chinese 10 years? What if they succeed in just 5 years?"
"Also, don't forget the energy consumption issue. If the energy consumption is only 1/3 of ours, then they can connect three chips in series or create larger chips to enhance their computing power."
"In that case, unless we can reach the 10nm-level process, we still won't be able to surpass them in performance," the suited man retorted.
"You're making estimates based on the assumption that the data provided by that Chinese company is completely accurate. But then again, I absolutely don't believe such a bizarre material can exist in the world. Massive micro-semiconductors cannot form. It's not scientific!"
Before the argument between the two could conclude, a secretary bustled in and whispered a few words into the ear of the head of the technology department. The latter's expression instantly changed, and he nodded with a wry smile, signaling everyone present to stop arguing.
"Gentlemen, there is no need to speculate on whether Schrödinger's cat is dead or alive!" the supervisor sighed. "Professor Jones, the head of the Computer Science Department at Harvard University, has just held a press conference within the university. He said that he was invited to China by Jiangnan Group the day before yesterday and personally witnessed that miraculous material."
"At the same time, he personally verified the data of this material. All the material data provided by Jiangnan Group is real and reliable. The Chinese do possess this bizarre, miraculous material, and they have even named it 'Jingjing'!"
"Professor Jones confirmed it? Is this news reliable?" the old-fashioned fossil couldn't help but ask.
"Mr. Hamilton, if I recall correctly, you were a former colleague of Professor Jones. If you have doubts, why not call him directly?" the supervisor said. Without hesitation, Mr. Hamilton took out his phone and called Professor Jones on the spot.
The two spoke for more than 10 minutes before their conversation was prematurely cut short because Professor Jones's phone was being dialed by someone else.
"The matter is real!" Mr. Hamilton sighed. "Professor Jones conducted experimental data tests on this material and confirmed the authenticity of the data."
"Is this material truly naturally occurring?" the supervisor asked quickly.
"No, Professor Jones said he couldn't determine whether this material was naturally formed or artificially manufactured, but he could be sure that the surface of this material has a layer of semiconductors connected according to a pattern. He doesn't believe anyone would deliberately create such a semiconductor connection, as it would require starting the architecture from scratch. It's something even a madman wouldn't do!"