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We're gonna need a lot more mathematicians

407 points · 504 comments · srcreigh

  1. atleastoptimal · · focus · HN ↗
    It would be nice to have more mathematicians, but we don't need more. Once AI math goes so far beyond human abilities, any human involvement is like an ant trying to understand quantum physics
    1. jahbrewski · · focus · HN ↗
      Even if that happens, what’s the point if there’s no human involvement? AI doing math for math’s sake? And doing what with it?
      1. tappingdance · · focus · HN ↗
        I think it is like saying what is the point of playing chess when you can never beat stockfish?

        What is Magnus Carlsen going to do when he can't beat the computer?

        It seems like a category error between humans using tools and humans building tools.

        There is not much point in trying to figure out a better chess engine. There has never been a better time though to want to learn chess.

        I find the idea that the computer will discover mathematics and humans call it a day rather ridiculous. As if humans will not then spend their time understanding and incorporating the ideas from the computer.

        Alphafold is a better example. Alphafold is only bad if you spent your life trying to solve protein folding. But even if you did, that is the same person who is the most setup to reap the benefits of the unlock in the pragmatic application of protein folding.

        We don't figure out how to get machines to harvest corn and then spend all day sitting around eating corn in between naps.

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