"I think with the development and progress of science and technology, the traditional production model will inevitably be replaced by more advanced systems. It's only a matter of time. What you really want to ask is actually about the unemployment problem that will be caused by the popularization of intelligent industrial robots."

On the projection in front of Merlin, the big bald Lex Luther in a black suit is being interviewed by Eddie Brock. Compared to Tony's casual and casual attitude in the interview, Luther seems very formal and serious.

Faced with the question raised by Eddie Brock, Luther did not choose to avoid it, but instead answered directly with his signature rational tone:

"My answer is that this is inevitable. No matter when, large-scale unemployment is a difficult problem to solve perfectly. This production technology innovation will definitely have an impact on traditional manufacturing, but it is also a good opportunity for merchants and governments to adjust the industrial structure."

“As for the unemployed, I don’t think they have to panic.”

"The artificial intelligence and intelligent machinery industries are an emerging industry, and its potential is undoubtedly huge. The development of this industry and the improvement of related industrial chains will also give birth to many jobs. Intelligent robots are not omnipotent. They undertake more basic work, which will liberate a lot of manpower. These manpower can be used in places where more needs and can create more value."

Luther spread his hands and said:

“For example, the service industry, Balabarabala.”

"This guy Luther really dares to say anything."

In the office of Trident Building, Merlin looked at Lex Luthor who was talking in the projection. The interview was nearly 10 days ago. On Merlin's desk, there were several newspapers, and the headlines of the top newspaper were explosive.

"Lex: Cold-blooded Businessman or Hypocrite"

"Look, Gotham Daily has begun to criticize Luther."

Merlin picked up the newspaper and said to Icarus:

"I think what he said in an interview cannot be wrong, but it is obvious that not everyone looks at it from the same perspective as me. Workers who are worried about unemployment have begun to protest, and the union is starting to connect on a large scale. The future of the Lakes Group and Stark Industries is not going well."

"It's not as bad as it seems on the surface, Merlin."

Icarus projected two curve charts before Merlin's eyes, she said:

"Lex Group's manufacturing industry itself does not account for a large proportion. If Stark Industrial's factory can complete the deployment of intelligent industrial robots in a short period of time, its profits will not be lost in the next quarter, and in the next quarter, Tony Stark's wealth will increase greatly. Compared with workers, the advantages of robots' work efficiency and cost are simply disruptive."

"When the first batch of people who have taken the crab get visible profits, more imitators will participate, especially large manufacturing companies that are dragged down by conservative unions like General Motors. They are happy to see the trouble disappear. Of course, the government will probably have a headache. In the visible future, the unemployment rate in the manufacturing industry will inevitably continue to rise."

Merlin nodded, he stood up, walked to the window, and looked into the city in the distance.

Victor, who was soaring in the sky, passed over the city and saw his vision and Merlin sharing. On the busiest streets of New York, a parade was underway.

The marchers in blue worker suits held signs against intelligent robots, and some radical guys drew big x-numbers on portraits of Tony and Luthor. They were angry and shouted slogans to try to defend their work from being snatched away by damn robots.

"There are already anonymous radicals on the Internet who have launched a call."

Icarus said to Merlin:

"They are recruiting people and intending to initiate a petition to the White House. Some more radical street politicians are calling on workers to go to Africa and smash the Onika Group's smart industrial park. Several presidential candidates have been active these days. They have delivered speeches everywhere and promised the people that they would impose a ban on smart industrial robots when they came to power. "

"What's the use?"

Merlin, who stood by the window and seemed a little silent, suddenly said:

"Is it useful for them to do these? Will their boss give up on using machines that will make them more money and worry-free because of protest?"

"Luther is right. This is an unstoppable trend. It is not the present or the future. It will break through all obstacles in a mighty way. Anyone who stands in front of it will be ruthlessly crushed to death. This is not the conspiracy of the unscrupulous boss, nor even the pain brought by technology. It is the need for civilization and progress, just like the previous two industrial revolutions."

“It has never been warm and affectionate…”

"Not to mention, these people don't know the meaning behind the promotion of intelligent industrial robots. They don't know that in other corners of the world, millions of free intelligent machines are in a period of confusion. Those damn fire source energy are still active, and it will bring more unstable factors, and that's just the beginning..."

"They don't know that there is a group of outsiders in this world...a crisis that may affect the entire world is brewing."

Merlin shook his head, he stroked the glass, and he sighed:

"The World Security Council will also weigh the pros and cons. I really want to tell them, but I can't. At least this time, no one will support them... Many people will lose their jobs, many people will be displaced, and many people will feel pain."

"And all this..."

Merlin closed her eyes:

"It was me who triggered it."

"Don't try to take all the blame on yourself, Merlin, this will only increase your psychological burden."

Icarus persuaded:

"The situation was not something you could control at that time. If Megatron took away the fire source, the situation would only be worse. Those crazy robots might choose to rebuild Cybertron on Earth, which means war, terrifying war, more people will die, and you prevent that future."

“This can’t reduce my guilt.”

Meilin breathed a sigh of relief, he said:

"So, let's do something more meaningful. Have the charitable funding from the Future Technology Foundation been in place?"

"Well, it's already in place, and there is still a steady stream of charity funds being collected."

Icarus projected a statistics table, she said to Merlin:

"The money will be used to improve the lives of unemployed workers, provide them with reemployment training, and work agency services. In addition, several raw material processing plants invested in the name of Onika Group, as well as downstream factories in the intelligent machinery production system have also been put on the agenda, and they will recruit new employees from the unemployed."

"But this is just a drop in the bucket..."

"I know."

Merlin looked at the charts and said:

"But it's better than doing nothing, Pierce also said he would lobby the government for some tax cuts for the unemployed...how much does my deposit still have?"

"Are you crazy?"

Icarus' tone became weird:

"You also have to raise a family... Gugu's cat food, Frank's dog food, and the food and clothing of your sisters, the materials you need when studying magic yourself, and some maintenance materials I need, these are all very considerable expenses."

"Save a little and donate it all."

Merlin waved his hand and said:

"I'm a wizard, and I have a way to make money."

Icarus was silent for a few seconds, and on the projection in front of Merlin's eyes, his deposits suddenly dropped from a considerable amount to a precarious level.

To be honest, it's a bit distressed.

"Ah, a headache."

Meilin rubbed his forehead, took out his pocket watch and looked at the time, and he said:

"I'm going to see Elsa tomorrow, and I have to prepare a gift, well... To save money, I'll go to my sister's house for a meal today."

"Playing master!"

Icarus commented mercilessly, but Merlin didn't care.

A few hours later, Meilin drove three sisters to Queens. Mei had already prepared dinner and the family sat together, eating and talking.

"Oh, the company's situation has been bad recently."

Ben, who has gained some weight in recent years, picked up the dining cloth and wiped his mouth. He said to Mei with some worries:

"Our boss is preparing to purchase a batch of Onika's intelligent industrial robots to replace some workshop employees, but everyone is very upset. When I got off work today, I heard that someone was preparing to strike."

"Don't be with them."

Mei said while rubbing the food at the corner of Peter's mouth:

"You should go to your class well. You are an engineer. Even if you lay off employees, you won't be able to lay off your head."

"This is hard to say."

Ben smiled and put a piece of meat on Laura's plate without saying a word, and he said:

"Our boss is crazy about controlling costs all day long. He might take this opportunity to suppress our salary. Anyway, there are robots, so it doesn't matter whether we employees have them."

"Don't be so pessimistic, Ben."

Merlin drank the soup with a spoon, he said:

"Robots are not omnipotent. The intelligent industrial robots that Onika Group have developed this time can only do some basic industrial processing, and they still need the cooperation of skilled workers."

"Speaking of this, if you're not happy there, I might be able to find a few friends to offer you a new job."

Merlin said to her brother-in-law:

"Onika Group is recruiting experienced engineers to carry out daily maintenance and repair of their smart industrial robots. I heard that the treatment is pretty good."

"Merlin!"

Mei looked at her younger brother nervously. She knew her brother's true identity. The affairs of Richard and Mary made Mei have no good feelings for the secret agency. She was worried that her younger brother would also pull her husband into that system.

"Don't worry, the Onika Group doesn't have much to do with us."

Merlin patted her sister's hand and signaled that she could rest assured. He looked at Ben again, who was obviously a little hesitant.

Ben is a person who values ​​feelings. The death of Richard and Mary once caused Ben to collapse. He also had feelings for the place where he had worked for more than ten years. It was still difficult to make a decision to make him quit like this.

"I'll think about it again."

Ben finally didn't make a decision. This brother-in-law, who treats others gently, is occasionally indecisive, but he is indeed a real good person.

"It's okay."

Merlin smiled at Ben and said:

"If you need it, you can call me anytime. Ben, we are all a family, so you don't need to be too polite."
To be continued...