This is an incredible moment in this history of mathematics, computer science, physics & science with some of the hardest problems in human history being solved by AI over a period of weeks. Depending on your perspective, it's either a crisis, a triumph, or both. I don't think anyone knows for sure. We're all trying to make sense of it. I oscillate between fear/dread and optimism/excitement on a daily basis. The rate of progress is insane, including today's announcement from OpenAI of more problems solved. To help make sense of all of it, here's my conversation with three mathematicians about this moment. Each of them is an expert in the field of each of the biggest problems solved: Navier-Stokes, quasi-Riemann hypothesis, the unique games conjecture and complexity theory more generally. Ankur Moitra is a mathematician and theoretical computer scientist at MIT, visiting the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Steven Brunton (@eigensteve) is a mathematician and fluid dynamics expert at UW. Alex Kontorovich (@AlexKontorovich) is a mathematician at Rutgers specializing in number theory.
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If a computer solves really hard maths problems does mankind benefit in any way? isn't the work required to solve the problem, the new methods, the addition to the sum of human knowledge the point?

Oct 27, 2026 · 8:51 AM UTC

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That sounds very ignorant - so I hope you are joking… Unless you are a guy who milks his own cow and churns his own butter instead of buying a box of butter at the store. Of course machines are much more efficient and inexpensive at solving mathematical equations…
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