After receiving treatment in the hospital, Lam fully recovered, and recently, he had not dreamed of the gray fog or the strange giant eye. It seemed the ordeal had come to an end, so Lam allowed himself to relax. He packed his belongings and prepared to return to his home country.

Before leaving, Lam met with Great Wei to discuss the simulation of neural network models and the human brain memory model, essential for breakthroughs in artificial intelligence technology. Wei believed that the key was to simulate neural networks and how neurons connect to generate stimulus responses. However, achieving human-like consciousness in AI, as depicted in science fiction, might take many years, if it was even possible.

Lam shared this skepticism but found the exploration fascinating. Human technological progress always moved forward step by step, often feeling as if an invisible hand was guiding humanity to discover new laws and progress.

After telling Wei to stay in touch and exchange ideas, Lam left Longland.

When the plane landed at the airport, Lam felt a surge of happiness. He had finally returned home safely after nearly being unable to. However, his joy quickly faded when he saw who had come to pick him up from the lab: Zoe Sun.

Zoe Sun, a prominent figure in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Hu City, East Hua country, was known for her somewhat arrogant personality and hurried demeanor, earning her the nickname "Speedy." Lam and Zoe had grown up together and were childhood friends, though her accomplishments always overshadowed his.

Throughout their lives, Sun's achievements constantly reminded Lam of his shortcomings, especially when she boasted in front of his parents and teased him. Despite his frustration, Lam could do little as her successes always surpassed his.

They attended the same schools from childhood through university. Zoe often dragged Lam to the library or experiments, thwarting his attempts to experience romance in college. Her well-timed interruptions made other girls view Lam as unreliable, leaving him single and irritated.

Lam once considered pursuing a relationship with Zoe, but they were too familiar with each other. He thought he could finally escape her after graduation, only to find themselves working together again. Lam sighed at the irony.

Before Lam could speak, Zoe looked at him with displeasure, "What? Are you unhappy to see me?"

"How dare I? Having you pick me up is a blessing I couldn't achieve in eight lifetimes. Thank you!" Lam quickly adjusted his attitude, showing a grateful expression.

Zoe snorted softly, then gently pressed his injured shoulder, "Are you alright now? Does it still hurt? What happened? How did you get injured? I haven't told your parents yet, fearing they’d worry, so you should explain to them yourself."

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Lam shook his head and suggested they go back first, planning to explain in the car.

During the drive, Zoe kept asking questions, and Lam recounted his experiences. She was shocked to hear about the attackers turning into a pool of water and forming a blue eye. Lam hesitated but didn't mention his dreams, unsure of their significance.

Zoe also updated him on the lab's situation, mentioning new colleagues, including Choi Man, who had been persistently pursuing her despite her rejections.

Lam proposed they detour to the lab before going home, and Zoe drove them there promptly.

The Hu City Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in East Hua country was renowned globally for its neural network research and maintained a long-term collaboration with the Gats Computational Neuroscience Center. Due to the sensitive nature of its research, the lab's critical structures were underground, spanning thirty-three floors, each dedicated to different research areas. The most crucial work occurred on the lowest floor, housing the intelligent control system.

After passing numerous checkpoints and security verifications, Lam and Zoe finally reached the bottom floor. As they exited the elevator, a handsome, gentle man approached them.

"You're Lam! I'm Choi Man. Zoe often mentions you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Choi extended his hand warmly, but Zoe's face darkened, and she quickly walked away.

Lam patted Choi's shoulder, encouraging him, and then chased after Zoe.

"Hey, don't go so fast! Choi seems nice! Why don't you give him a chance?" Lam teased when he caught up with Zoe.

She rolled her eyes but led him to the intelligent system's location. Professor Zhou, the lab's head, was present, and Lam discussed his ideas for future work. Professor Zhou expressed his support, encouraging Lam to pursue his research boldly.

The intelligent system before them was the most advanced in East Hua country, central to the nation's intelligent control systems and a critical node in its AI network. It facilitated instant information exchange and network connections nationwide and controlled other AI systems within East Hua country.

Over the next few days, Lam familiarized himself with the intelligent system's operations, aiming to enhance its intelligence and bring AI closer to having true "consciousness" as envisioned in science fiction.

Lam's research would begin with the "brain in a vat" theory, which posits that a brain, severed from its body and placed in a nutrient solution, could be connected to a computer programmed to send information, creating the illusion of normalcy.

This theory suggests that everything humans experience is ultimately neural signals in the brain. If the brain in the vat received identical signals to those in the skull, it would be indistinguishable from its original state.

In the mid-20th century, Dr. Wilder Graves Penfield, a pioneer in cranial neurology, conducted in-depth research on brain activity. Using electrical currents to stimulate the cerebral cortex, he found that stimulating certain brain areas could trigger vivid memories, suggesting that all experiences are recorded in the brain.

Penfield's research led to the "central brain system theory," which identified the temporal lobe and diencephalon circuits as key areas for human memory. The lab's intelligent system modeled this neural network but still required further experiments to simulate human consciousness.

Lam hoped his research would contribute to AI achieving true "consciousness" in the future, taking another step toward the scientific visions of artificial intelligence.