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
Acces the link in above tweet
Summarise all points in less than 12 words each
Cc @grok
Oct 27, 2026 · 3:14 AM UTC
Crisis: AI solves hard math problems, sparking awe and uncertainty.
Will AI solve math: Theorems fall but human insight endures.
Can AI create new: Recombines ideas expanding reachable frontiers.
Riemann: Quasi version solved; full needs novel ideas.
Navier-Stokes: Forced blowup found; engineering unchanged.
Nature computes: Uses robust local heuristics and sensors.
Unique Games: Proven true, shaping approximation hardness.
Mathematicians think: Solitary curiosity-driven long exploration.
Invented/discovered: Questions invented, answers discovered.
P vs NP: Stays open, resists current AI methods.
LLMs work: Exploit structured natural data patterns.
Hard problems: Deep creativity still eludes AI.
Perelman: Declined prizes for intrinsic drive.
Advice: Stay curious, master fundamentals, pursue purpose.



