Thread

1. gpt5 · 1790020903 · focus · HN ↗

   The purpose is obvious - AI companies are using math to as a PR tool to demonstrate that AI is more capable than humans. This devalues math and mathematicians. There is even a relevant announcement from today, where OpenAI announced they solve 100 open math problems, without even bothering to state what they are.

   However, even if they are successful in removing math from the PR toolkit of AI companies, I can’t see it more than a short term band aid. If AI progression continues, the announcements will just transition from big flashy one, to a kid using Claude on their laptop.

   I don’t have a solution here, and I’m worried it’s coming to all human fields. So it’s more of an ability to observe what might happen to all of us.

   1. WarmWash · 1790024821 · focus · HN ↗

      These math problems don't exist in a vacuum. It's not like mathematicians are doing mathematics just for the funsies.

      Calling it a publicity stunt is an interesting way of framing ground breaking discoveries. The beneficiaries down stream of these discoveries could not care less how they were found.

      1. [deleted] · 1790031563 · focus · HN ↗

         [deleted]

      2. margorczynski · 1790032772 · focus · HN ↗

         > It's not like mathematicians are doing mathematics just for the funsies.

         But they do. Most of higher math has no practical applications and is just a mental playground, philosophy constrained by formal logic and a set of axioms.

         Hope is these capabilities will somehow translate to something more practical like physics, chemistry or biology.

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