Cyberpunk 2074: Shadows of the Past

Chapter 60 The Past: Chariots (I)

Rui Fan is a taxi driver.

More precisely, he used to be a taxi driver.

When he was young, his parents died in a car accident on his way to school.

At that time, Rui Fan was standing at the gate of the school and witnessed the flames not far away.

He watched helplessly, how those two familiar faces were crushed into minced meat by steel.

He couldn't recall the specific situation.

I only remember that I went crazy and ran to the scene, but was sent flying a few meters by a series of explosions.

The fire truck couldn't arrive in time because of the traffic jam, and he could only watch the flames wantonly dye the fragments of the car and the tissues of the human body in the deepest black.

He could only watch, and waited until the traffic jams were less severe before finding someone to haul away the shattered car wreckage and sell it for money, and put the few banknotes he could use into jars for the old couple. .

Rui Fan thought he was flexible and eloquent, so when he gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, he was desperate and ran to the most famous taxi company in Night City to try his luck.

Even though he didn't have a driver's license at all, he still secretly learned his driving skills from his father.

Now that his parents had died in a car accident, he was heartless and devoted himself to the business of driving. Was he trying to catch the hit-and-run driver in this way?
He couldn't tell himself.

So, he worked so hard to drive a rental car in Night City for most of his life.

Relying on his youth, he changed shifts once a week.

During the day shift, I get up at 5:[-] in the morning, go out to work, and go back to the rented room to sleep at around [-]:[-] in the afternoon.

During the night shift, I went out around [-]:[-] p.m. and returned home around [-]:[-] a.m. the next day.

Looking at the hard work, Rui Fan didn't complain about it, he ate two meals a day, and optimistically thought it was saving money.

Finally, with a little savings at hand, he gritted his teeth and bought a second-hand car by himself, and put it under the company's name. His life was a little easier and more nourishing than before.

When did the change start?
He forgot the time, only remembering that it seemed to begin with a casual chat with a colleague.

"Hey, Rui Fan, business is good recently!" It was my colleague Dila who spoke, just like him before, he was a young and vigorous young man.

"It's not big or small, it's Brother Rui Fan!" Rui Fan responded with a smile while drinking beer.

At this time, he was no longer young, he became potbellied, and his hair was thinning
"Hey, I really want to thank the company for introducing the AI ​​system!" A colleague at the next table also shouted loudly.

They are sitting in a motel.

Taxi drivers in Night City always use this place as a rest stop, eating and drinking food that is not very delicious but cheap enough. If you are lucky, you can find cheap girls to relieve the pressure.

"Okay, okay, this is a slap in the face." Rui Fan patted his slack cheeks, shook his head helplessly, and responded with a smile.

When the company said it would introduce an AI system a few years ago, he was not very optimistic.

"Why, Brother Rui Fan, tell me." The young Dila just joined the company this year, and he is very kind, and Rui Fan doesn't mind chatting with him about the past.

"Night City, you know, there are all kinds of ghosts and monsters. Two years ago, because of complaints from a large number of passengers for many years, the company planned to introduce AI driving technology." Rui Fan said to Dila while knocking on the table. , "At that time, it was not the same as now. Drivers with poor performance would be fired if they were careless, and new drivers would be recruited. The position was very unstable. If you joined the company at that time, you might be kicked out within a month."

Rui Fan chuckled, and patted Dila who was scratching her head in embarrassment.

This guy is good at everything, but his driving skills are terrible, fast and slow, in the old days of purely manual driving, he couldn't get along at all.

"In the past, the company's upper management tried to solve the complaint problem by changing employees frequently, but unfortunately, it didn't work at all."

"Later, two years ago, the company's executives gritted their teeth and prepared to introduce an AI system at a high price to assist drivers in driving and give passengers the most comfortable ride experience."

Rui Fan drank the last drop of wine in the glass, paused, and continued talking.

"That's why I'm not optimistic about it. AI equipment is too expensive. Night City lacks everything else, but there is no shortage of cheap people! As long as you give me money, you can always find a guy who is willing to drive for you!" Rui Fan Pointing to Dila, he asked him to bring himself another bottle of beer.

Dila was also good at observing words and expressions. Before his senior could speak, he had already rushed to get the wine.

"AI is different. It's a sophisticated thing. That guy, how expensive the system must be! Installing it in a taxi is like putting a gold ring on the toilet!"

Rui Fan took the beer that Dila graciously handed over, shouted loudly, and slapped the table vigorously.

"Hey, buddy, keep your voice down!" The man who was drinking at the side gave Rui Fan a look.

"Oh, I'm sorry, big man." Seeing that the other party was tall and wearing a pair of sunglasses, Rui Fan apologized softly based on the principle that one thing more is worse than one thing less.

The man didn't pursue it either, and just continued drinking.

Rui Fan shook his head, turned around, lowered his voice, and continued talking to Dila.

"Where did you just say?" He stroked the bald top of his head and realized once again that he was old.

"The gold-encrusted circle..."

"Oh, that's right." Rui Fan nodded, "Dilla, you just joined the company at the beginning of this year, right?"

"Yes, Brother Ruifan."

"Do you think our company benefits are good, there are not low holiday bonuses, and shopping vouchers that can be redeemed at Whole Foods stores..."

"I didn't have this kind of treatment before. Before the introduction of AI, the company once froze the holiday bonus..." Rui Fan shook his head. As an old man who has served in the company for decades, he has really experienced all kinds of ups and downs.

It would be a lie to say that you don't envy these young people who have just entered the industry and enjoy new treatment.

"That's really okay..." Dila nodded, a little happy that her industry has a good prospect.

"Really? Maybe I can still save some money and leave it for my daughter as a dowry... This is a beautiful thing that I can't even imagine in Night City." Rui Fan rubbed his cheeks with emotion, and drank heavily Cold beer.

"But... won't AI replace us?" After all, Dila is young, and her mind is still a little flexible, and she has not been fixed by decades of daily life.

"That's something you have to watch out for, boy! Your driving skills are too bad! It's possible for an AI to replace you!"

"But like us..."

Rui Fan shook his head and let out a contemptuous snort from his nose.

"Those AIs are as stupid as a piece of wood, and companies are going to have to pay a lot of money to get to our level! Those idiots... just keep saying 'Thank you, sir.'"

He was drunk, lying on the table, his words were full of disdain.

Dila patted the old man's back lightly, but her heart couldn't stop the waves.

Can AI really replace humans?

Not now, what about the future?

Dila didn't know that he was just a novice driver who had just entered the industry in 2070.

You have to find a way out.

He glanced at Rui Fan one last time, and sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)