Anyone with even a basic understanding of this automated logistics rollout knew that the worker displacement issue was a political third rail that nobody wanted to touch.
Of course, time would eventually dilute the initial shock, which was exactly what the executives were banking on. Maybe returning to rural areas to get into agriculture would prove to be a viable alternative for the displaced workforce, especially given the explosive growth of high-end organic farming.
As the American standard of living continued to rise, consumers were becoming hyper-focused on wellness. People cared deeply about what they put into their bodies, turning sustainable, tech-driven organic agriculture into a premium market. In theory, this shift could create a massive wave of new jobs, revitalizing struggling rural communities and helping families climb out of poverty.
Of course, Nick wasn't about to tell these reporters that Militech was already in talks with the Department of Agriculture and major automated farming conglomerates to build an autonomous mega-farm out west. Before long, even the traditional concept of a farmer would likely be replaced by autonomous tractors and AI-driven combines.
Even though it was currently just a pilot project, it had secured massive backing from federal agricultural boards and tech infrastructure committees. The initiative was already being fast-tracked as a cornerstone of the New American Rural Development Project, receiving heavy federal subsidies.
The rollout was still in its early engineering phases, but as the industry leaders in Swarm-Array Control Technology, Nick's team was already deeply embedded in the systems architecture. According to the current roadmap, the project would officially break ground this October, aiming to be fully operational in time for next year's spring wheat planting season.
A project like this wasn't going to be a cash cow. Nick and his team were participating primarily to stress-test their core automation algorithms in a new environment. They wanted to pioneer domestic autonomous farming, boost agricultural yields, and revitalize rural economies.
Simply put, it was a massive PR win. While initiatives like this didn't look like much on a quarterly earnings report, the political capital and public goodwill they generated were invaluable. Nick wanted to build a widely respected tech empire, not a predatory corporation that maximized short-term profits at the expense of its reputation.
"Mr. Harryson, does this mean Militech plans to officially pivot into the logistics and shipping sector down the road?"
The reporter's voice snapped Nick out of his thoughts. He shook his head firmly. "Our core focus will always be the R&D of next-generation technologies. We have no intention of running a logistics network. We have complete faith in our partners at Amazon, and we're confident they're going to revolutionize the industry."
Realizing they weren't going to get a controversial headline out of the logistics angle, the reporters instantly pivoted.
"Mr. Harrison, your recent legal battle with Apple practically took over the internet. Has that situation been formally resolved? There are rumors swirling that a licensing agreement is imminent. Does this mean the H1 assistant will soon be natively integrated into iOS, giving you a major foothold in the international market?"
Nick looked at the reporter who had asked the question. "We are currently in active consultations with Apple's executive team. After the recent public friction, both sides are highly motivated to find common ground. If everything goes according to plan, I think you'll see an official announcement very soon. As for the international market, it's on our radar, but our priority remains serving our domestic user base first."
"How would you characterize Apple's initial pressure tactics? Have they issued a formal apology?" a reporter from a major tech blog pressed.
Nick kept his expression neutral. "Win-win collaboration is the driving force of the modern tech ecosystem. Anti-competitive behavior and extortionate terms don't work, and they certainly don't foster innovation or market growth."
When Nick stopped talking, the reporter tried to squeeze in a follow-up, but Nick smoothly turned his attention to the other side of the crowd.
An eager reporter on his left immediately thrust a microphone forward, raising his voice over the din. "Mr. Harrison, the H1 currently relies on a sleek earpiece design. Are there plans to transition to a different form factor? Furthermore, we know several major smartphone manufacturers have reached out to you. Have you considered licensing your software to them to make it more accessible for everyday consumers?"
Nick gave a definitive shake of his head. "We're constantly researching new form factors to make the hardware even more seamless for our users. As for licensing the software to third-party phone brands, we have absolutely no plans in that direction. Frankly, we believe the H1 ecosystem is incredibly convenient as it is."
"Our user metrics and customer service feedback show an incredibly high satisfaction rate. This isn't just me bragging about our own product; the data speaks for itself. Anyone interested can check out our community forums, where thousands of users have shared how much the device has changed their daily routines."
"Mr. Harrison, can we interpret this refusal to partner with smartphone brands as a strategic move to protect your own hardware sales?" the reporter asked, trying a more aggressive angle.
Nick found the question slightly amusing. It was obviously the truth, but he was never going to say that on camera. He looked at the reporter and countered, "Why does an AI assistant have to live inside a smartphone? Is our current hardware lacking? Smartphones have brought us incredible convenience, but a severe psychological dependence on screens has become a major societal issue."
"The traditional phone call function is practically an afterthought now; these devices are essentially just portable, addictive information terminals. If the goal is simply to provide seamless, hands-free utility to the public, the form factor shouldn't matter."
"In fact, our internal data shows that after adopting the H1, a user's screen time drops dramatically. Since its launch, our product has actively been saving smartphone addicts. People are finally lifting their eyes from their screens to look at the world around them. The world has always been beautiful—it's just that everyone was too busy staring at a piece of glass to notice the scenery."
Nick's response was carefully measured, but the sharp tech journalists in the crowd instantly extracted two massive pieces of industry intelligence from his words.
First, Militech had absolutely no intention of playing ball with smartphone manufacturers or releasing a mobile-embedded app version of their AI.
Second, the industry rumors were almost certainly true: Militech was likely already developing a next-generation H1 model equipped with independent cellular networking and standalone calling capabilities. This meant that in the very near future, the H1 assistant wouldn't need a phone to function at all—it would replace it entirely.
If that materialized, it wouldn't just challenge the smartphone market; it would trigger an absolute earthquake across the entire global tech industry.