"how do you feel?"

In the lounge of Fertile Land Research Institute, Professor Wu once again acted as a broker and asked Professor Tang Ou with a smile.

"It's a little unexpected."

Tang Ou did not hide his shock, "Before I came here, it was hard for me to imagine that domestic companies would have such ambitions in cutting-edge technology research and development, and even put them into practice."

"Mr. Ya is indeed an anomaly."

Professor Wu also smiled, "But you can't deny that Mo Ya has the strength to realize his ambitions."

"yes."

Tang Ou did not refute, Zhang Shuo's title as the richest man was there.

"So, what do you think? Do you want to join?"

Professor Wu continued to lobby, "Zhang Shuo has already agreed that the laboratory can be built in Xiangjiang and will not interfere with the daily scientific research work of the laboratory. It is completely free of charge."

"I don't think I have any reason to refuse anymore?" Tang Ou also took advantage of the situation.

"Ha ha!!!"

Professor Wu was also very happy, "Let's go, Zhang Shuo has already arranged the dinner."

………

Zhang Shuo's so-called dinner party was actually arranged in the canteen of the Fertile Land Research Institute.

Because Professor Tan Yunsong doesn’t like socializing outside.

Fortunately, Professor Wu and Professor Tan are both engaged in research and are not particular about what they eat. The most talked about topics at the dinner table are topics related to artificial intelligence.

To this day.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a general concept, but includes many research directions.

The more popular ones are——

1. Natural language generation

Artificial intelligence uses computer data to generate text, which can be used in customer service, report generation, and business intelligence information summary.

2. Voice recognition

Artificial intelligence dictates human language and converts it into a form useful for computer applications, which can be used in interactive voice response systems and mobile applications.

3.Virtual assistant

This is "the darling of the current media" and includes everything from simple chatbots to advanced systems that can communicate with humans online.

Can be used in customer service and support, as well as smart home management tools.

4. Machine learning platform

Provides algorithms, APIs, development and training toolkits, data, and computing capabilities to design, train, and evolve computational models into applications, processes, and machines.

Can be used in a wide range of enterprise applications, most of which include prediction or classification functions.

5. Hardware optimized by artificial intelligence

Specifically designed and architected GPUs and applications for running artificial intelligence computing tasks.

Can be used to transform deep learning applications.

6. Decision management

An engine that inserts rules and logic into artificial intelligence systems, which can be used for initial setup/training, as well as ongoing maintenance and optimization.

It can be used in a variety of different enterprise applications to assist or automate decision-making.

7. Deep learning platform

A special form of machine learning platform containing multiple layers of artificial neural networks that can be used for pattern recognition and classification based on large data sets.

8.Biological information

Empowering more natural interactions between humans and machines, including but not limited to image and touch recognition, voice and body language, can be used for market research.

9. Machine processing automation

Use scripts and other methods to automate human operations to support more efficient business processes and can be used for certain tasks and processes where labor costs are high or inefficient.

10. Text analysis and natural language processing

Artificial intelligence uses statistical and machine learning methods to understand the structure, meaning, emotion and intention of sentences, and can be used for fraud detection and information security, a variety of automated assistants, and the mining of unstructured data.

For example, use artificial intelligence to write press releases.

11.Image recognition

Image recognition refers to the process of identifying and detecting features in videos or pictures. Its mechanisms help in mass processing of image searches and detection of license plates, diagnosing diseases and studying personality.

The main research direction of Professor Tang Ou's team is face recognition system.

This is only the mainstream direction that can be explored at present. In the future, as artificial intelligence technology continues to mature, its application scope and fields will become wider and wider.

Until it becomes one of the main production tools for social progress.

There are so many research directions in the field of artificial intelligence, and each branch requires long-term efforts. Naturally, Fertile Soil Research Institute cannot handle it alone.

This is why Zhang Shuo is so eager to win over Tang Ou's team.

Professors Tan Yunsong and Tang Ou are both masters in the field of artificial intelligence. Professor Wu is also involved in the research of artificial intelligence, but Zhang Shuo is a bit of a layman.

But Zhang Shuo is not without merit. As a reborn person, he has a very intuitive understanding of the development trends of artificial intelligence in the next ten years, such as language assistants, face recognition, online translation, etc.

So I can add a few words.

Sometimes the proposed application prospects of artificial intelligence even resonate with professors.

Lu Qingyun, CEO of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing, who was accompanying me, would occasionally chime in.

Walli Intelligent Manufacturing's core business is robot research and development, and the core of robots is actually artificial intelligence, including facial recognition technology, map navigation technology and other intelligent sensing technologies.

In particular, the automatic pathfinding and planning system is the core of the robot.

"As long as we make breakthroughs in automatic path finding, we can develop sweeping robots, collaborative robots, tracked unmanned vehicles, AGV logistics cars, fixed-wing drones and other types of robots in the future. The prospects are bright."

When talking about the rise, Lu Qingyun danced with joy.

"Sweeping robot? This is okay."

Zhang Shuo didn't know much about anything else, but he was looking forward to the sweeping robot that would gradually transform from a rarity to being accepted and recognized by thousands of households in the next few years.

The market prospects are absolutely broad!

"What's the matter, Zhang Shuo, are you interested in investing some more money in Walli Intelligent Manufacturing? The initial funds of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing are almost exhausted." Professor Wu took over the conversation, half joking and half serious.

This is also his true intention of bringing Lu Qingyun here this time.

To put it bluntly, it is here to attract investment.

"At what stage has the automatic path-finding technology been developed?" Zhang Shuo asked.

"Well, we are still in the research stage." Lu Qingyun was a little embarrassed. Wali Intelligent Manufacturing has been established for more than a year, and it has spent a lot of money, but it has not produced any decent research and development results.

It's inevitable to be a little embarrassed.

"Okay, let's talk directly. How much money will we need to invest in this round of financing?"

Zhang Shuo is very self-aware and knows that even if Wali Intelligent Manufacturing is short of money, he will not accept a wholly-owned acquisition by Sprout. In terms of financial needs, it is probably a squeeze.

With each round of financing completed, the valuation of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing will increase.

The advantage of this is that even if each round is a budding main investor and the shares held by the founding team of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing are continuously diluted, at least some can still be retained.

It will not become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sprout.

The founding team of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing are all elites from the field of robot research and development at home and abroad. They are mainly Ph.D.s. They are a bit proud at heart and are not willing to accept "pointing fingers" from Germination.

But pride is pride, and if you don’t have money, it doesn’t matter.

Compared with other venture capital firms, Sprout's reputation is already pretty good. Key Sprout has a very deep presence in the field of artificial intelligence. Walli Intelligent Manufacturing can strengthen its technical cooperation with Fertile Land Research Institute in the future.

Create a synergistic effect.

"Wali Intelligent Manufacturing's Series A financing is valued at 500 million, and it is planned to raise 100 million and transfer 20% of the shares. Mr. Zhang, do you think it is acceptable?" Lu Qingyun was also prepared.

"Can."

For the sake of Professor Wu, Zhang Shuo did not bargain at all.

An investment of hundreds of millions was finalized in a few words at the dinner table. It seems incredible, but the fact is that it is not that profound at all.

Because Zhang Shuo trusts Professor Wu, it's that simple.

When Walli Intelligent Manufacturing was founded, Sprout Group was one of the original shareholders. It invested 45 million yuan and obtained 35% of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing's shares, with a valuation equivalent to 130 million.

One year has passed.

The overall valuation of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing has risen to 500 million, which is a little watery, but it is still acceptable.

After Sprout leads the Series A financing, its shareholding in Walli Intelligent Manufacturing will increase from 35% to 48%. Not to mention that it is still the largest shareholder, and it is still close to achieving control of Walli Intelligent Manufacturing.
To be continued...