Apple's WWDC.
A product launch event as well as a developer conference.
Once the presentation ended, discussions began with over 5,000 developers on various topics.
This time, artificial intelligence was the main point of interest.
Questions poured in about AI technology, especially in connection with the Internet of Things (IoT) used in Taewoo Electronics' products.
Fortunately, I didn't have to answer them myself.
Professor Hinton handled all the developers' questions, and I was free to sit back and watch.
"Professor! I'd like to know why AI technology, which had been stagnant for so long, suddenly advanced so rapidly."
"As with any technology, it all comes down to money, time, and manpower. The financial aspect was taken care of by investors, including Taewoo Group and Apple. We've also been researching AI for quite some time. And as for manpower…"
Professor Hinton paused briefly, taking a deep breath.
Then, with a satisfied smile, he called out a name.
"One of the biggest contributors was Minjeong Chun from South Korea. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that, thanks to her, we were able to redefine AI algorithms."
"I've never heard of her before. Is she in the AI industry?"
"She's an IT expert from Taewoo Group. As I understand it, Vice Chairman Minjae Kim personally brought her in."
Professor Hinton spoke highly of Minjeong Chun.
For someone like him—considered a pioneer in AI—to give such praise meant that her skills were truly exceptional.
Before my regression, her name had never been publicly recognized.
She had probably made her mark behind the scenes.
But in this life, she was making a name for herself in the spotlight, gaining recognition from developers worldwide.
"Oh! And I also want to emphasize just how much of a contribution Vice Chairman Minjae Kim has made. The idea for the Internet of Things, as well as the concept of Siri—both originated from him."
Swish!
All 5,000 developers turned their heads toward me in unison.
I quickly waved my hands in modest denial, but my attempt at humility was completely overshadowed by Steve's sudden appearance.
"Everything Professor Hinton said is true. In fact, the person who inspired the iPhone itself is none other than Vice Chairman Minjae Kim. This might sound arrogant, but there are only two people in the tech industry I truly acknowledge. One is Microsoft's Bill Gates, and the other is Minjae Kim."
"Haha, I never expected to hear that from you, Steve. But Vice Chairman Kim isn't just an expert—he's more like an artist painting the big picture. He has a prophetic vision of where technology is headed and how it should be applied."
These people!
At this point, I couldn't even tell if they were praising me or just teasing me.
Judging by their playful smirks, it seemed like they were deliberately messing with me.
"David! Let's get out of here. If we stay any longer, we'll just become their playthings."
"Why? I kind of want to stay longer."
Even David had a mischievous smile on his face.
Apparently, just watching me squirm wasn't enough—he had even pulled out a camera to capture the moment.
"Well then, I guess I'll leave on my own. See you back at the office."
I made a quick escape from the event hall.
For some reason, as soon as I stepped outside, a wave of reporters began snapping photos of me.
Before they could swarm me, I quickly got into my car and drove away from the venue.
*
The next day.
I visited a fintech bank located in Silicon Valley.
The last time I was here, it was still under heavy renovations, making it feel nothing like a bank.
But now, it was more modern and sophisticated than the headquarters of most major banks.
"Welcome, sir! I'll escort you to the president's office."
"President Dimon himself coming out to greet me? I'm honored."
"Let's save the jokes for inside."
We stepped into the bank president's office.
Jamie Dimon, dressed in a sharp suit with a stern expression, relaxed as soon as we entered.
"Do you know what the hardest part of being a bank president is? Keeping a straight face all the time. I already miss working with you back in Korea."
"For someone who claims to miss it, you look like you're doing quite well. The bank must be thriving."
"Thanks to you, we've been growing at an incredible pace. SAVE Investment, Apple, Google, and even Amazon have chosen us as their primary bank. That, in turn, has led many Silicon Valley companies to open accounts with us as well."
What's the ultimate dream of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs?
To grow their startups into giants like Apple, Google, or Amazon.
And if their idols were all choosing this fintech bank?
They had no choice but to follow suit, eager to share even a small commonality with them.
"Sounds like deposit acquisition is going well."
"And PayPal is proving to be quite lucrative too. Apple, Amazon, and Google are all encouraging its use, which is a huge boost."
"At this rate, all the money in Silicon Valley will flow into your bank."
"To retain these deposits, we need to offer attractive interest rates. That's why we're working with SAVE Investment to build an optimized investment portfolio."
Banks prioritize stability above all else.
Traditionally, they relied on government bonds to generate returns.
But to keep Silicon Valley entrepreneurs engaged, they needed higher yields, and SAVE Investment was helping them achieve that.
Knock, knock!
Just as we were deep in conversation, there was a knock at the door.
A secretary stepped inside.
"Mr. President! You need to come outside immediately. An important client has arrived."
"Why the urgency? Can't you see I'm with a client right now?"
"It's Steve from Apple!"
"What? Are you serious?"
Dimon looked at me.
But I had no idea what was going on either, so we both shot up from our seats simultaneously and rushed down to the bank lobby.
Sure enough, Steve was standing there.
Since this was a bank in Silicon Valley, most of the customers were IT industry professionals.
The moment they saw Steve—practically a legend in their world—gasps of shock spread throughout the room.
Dimon quickly stepped in and escorted Steve to the president's office.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to see Vice Chairman Minjae Kim. When you suddenly disappeared from the event, I wondered where you'd gone—turns out you were at the bank."
"You mean to say you came all the way to the bank just to see me?"
"I also wanted to check if the bank handling my money was doing its job properly."
Even as we walked to the president's office, the sound of camera shutters filled the air.
Given how much Steve valued his privacy, I expected him to be annoyed.
But instead, he casually waved at the cameras and even adjusted his position to make it easier for photographers to get good shots.
"Don't tell me… you're doing this to promote the bank?"
"Consider it a bonus. If this is the bank you're backing, the least I can do is help. After all the effort you put into the product launch, I should at least show some appreciation."
I was right.
Steve had come to the fintech bank for publicity.
He fully understood the weight of his presence—just the fact that he had visited would skyrocket the bank's credibility within Silicon Valley.
Dimon knew it too.
With genuine gratitude, he bowed slightly and said, "Thank you. I never expected you to go this far."
"If anything, I should be the one thanking you. Just make sure you handle Apple's money well. Oh! And Kim, were you planning to head back to Korea after finishing today's schedule?"
"Yes. I have a lot to take care of in Korea, so I can't stay in the U.S. for long."
"You can't just run off like that. Don't you think we should at least have a brainstorming session for the next iPhone before you leave?"
The new product had just been unveiled, and yet here he was, already thinking about the next version.
"Steve, I don't walk around with a bag full of ideas. How are we supposed to hold a brainstorming session on such short notice?"
"Don't think of it as a meeting—just a conversation. Talking with you always sparks inspiration."
Steve was relentless.
Dimon, understanding the situation, quietly excused himself.
And just like that, the fintech bank president's office had been turned into an impromptu innovation lab.
"If we're talking about upcoming technology, one key feature would be biometric security—integrating fingerprint and facial recognition. Phones will eventually replace ID cards, so security will become a top priority."
"Brilliant! This is why talking to you is always worthwhile. What else? Keep going."
Steve even pulled out a notebook, jotting things down eagerly.
It seemed I had no choice but to reveal a few more ideas I had been keeping under wraps.
"Taewoo Electronics is developing some new technology. With it, we can expand the iPhone's accessory ecosystem."
"Accessories? What exactly are you referring to?"
"First, wireless earphones."
"Wireless earphones? But we already include earphones with every iPhone purchase."
"I'm talking about truly wireless earphones. If we can properly implement noise-canceling technology, wouldn't that be another revolution?"
"Noise canceling? You mean the technology used in headsets for helicopter and airplane pilots?"
"Exactly. It eliminates surrounding noise, allowing users to focus entirely on their music."
Taewoo Electronics was actively developing noise-canceling technology.
Among the patents acquired from Japan, some were related to noise cancelation. They were also in negotiations to purchase additional patents from audio equipment manufacturers in Germany and the United States.
"So, you're saying we should extend innovation beyond the iPhone and into its accessories. That's an excellent idea!"
"We should be able to develop it in time for next year's product launch—assuming Apple provides its full support."
"Leave that to me. I'll send a team of experts to Korea to handle everything from design to compatibility. Now, what else do you have in mind?"
He really came prepared today.
After all, he had just given a huge publicity boost to Dimon's fintech bank. I supposed I should return the favor.
"I'm also considering a smartwatch."
"A watch? People can already check the time on their iPhones—do we really need a separate device?"
"Just as phones evolved from simple communication tools into iPhones, I believe watches can evolve from mere timepieces into smartwatches."
"So, you're thinking of integrating various functionalities. Hmm... In that case, we'd need features that make it useful even without a phone—perhaps for activities like jogging or golfing."
He was truly remarkable.
In my previous life, smartwatches weren't released until 2014.
Now, I had introduced the idea a decade early, and Steve grasped it instantly, already envisioning practical applications.
"Heart rate monitoring and built-in maps would be incredibly useful for fitness. And if we integrate voice recognition and AI, it would make interactions much more seamless."
"If we add call and messaging capabilities, users could stay connected even during workouts or emergencies."
We continued bouncing ideas off each other.
For over three hours, we discussed smartwatches and accessories before finally wrapping up the brainstorming session.