Thread

If math is more than proof, we need to better celebrate the rest of it

433 points · 285 comments · num42

aborsy · 1789805341 · focus · HN ↗
Mr. Tao is an excellent politician. Lots of awards and texts, yet no major problem solved.
It seems now that NS is solved he is mobilizing the community to convince taxpayers continue to pay even though AI may do a better job in his work.
Also, his opinion of AI has continually changed in the past years, after the capabilities were demonstrated.
1. vatsachak · 1789805837 · focus · HN ↗
  Gr8 b8 m8
2. [deleted] · 1789806137 · focus · HN ↗
  [deleted]
3. traes · 1789813259 · focus · HN ↗
  > Also, his opinion of AI has continually changed in the past years, after the capabilities were demonstrated.
  Ignoring the other ridiculous parts of your comment, isn't this exactly what you're supposed to do? Update your beliefs according to the newest information available?
  1. aborsy · 1789826903 · focus · HN ↗
    Yes , you are supposed to do. That doesn’t change the fact that he has no insight into technology, and is a bandwagon person.
    If I’m a mathematician, I can write public posts on math. Extensive posts about politics, AI, crypto, … are not useful without expertise in those domains
4. qbit42 · 1789818148 · focus · HN ↗
  This post isn't by Tao.
  1. qtrz-qpo · 1789818724 · focus · HN ↗
    I'm increasingly seeing people read something in a post that isn't there. GP said "Tao is mobilizing the community".
    You can mobilize the community through guest posts that slowly nudge people towards accepting AI, so that they demand funding for AI for academics. Which he himself suggests:
    <a href="https://terrytao.wordpress.com/2026/09/18/sairs-open-math-model-initiative/" rel="nofollow">https://terrytao.wordpress.com/2026/09/18/sairs-open-math-mo...
    He is founder of SAIR.
    The EU version is to demand a CERN for AI:
    <a href="https://terrytao.wordpress.com/2026/09/17/a-cern-for-ai-assisted-science/" rel="nofollow">https://terrytao.wordpress.com/2026/09/17/a-cern-for-ai-assi...
    qbit42 · 1789819136 · focus · HN ↗
    It just looked to me like the GP hadn't read the article and assumed it was a post by Tao. You are right about Tao of course, no objections there.

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