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.
Here's the links to the conversation:
YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=ZAzWPE9C…
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2MAi0B…
Podcast: lexfridman.com/podcast
Oct 26, 2026 · 11:27 PM UTC
Boy, have you got a surprise coming, Lex. I’m not entirely sure what these chaps have been up to these past few weeks, as I’ve been rather busy dealing with all of the above.
As such, while everyone has been trying to make sense of this extraordinary moment, I’ve been finishing something rather larger.
This is the Continuity Model, and yes, it is very real, my friend.
@lexfridman w/o listening why use the word crisis? Doesn't seem your vibe or descriptive of the times. Do you not agree that this is something closer to an "acceleration" to be discussed even if all three guests feel threatened?
33
Maths is naught more than a cosmic MacGuffin.
"So far as the theories of mathematics are about reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality" - Albert Einstein
youtu.be/wJEi1lVD-gk?si=h_PL…
2
103
Acces the link in above tweet
Summarise all points in less than 12 words each
Cc @grok
1
2
37















