AI just solved a maths problem stumping researchers for decades
OpenAI said this week it solved Navier-Stokes. This is a Millennium Prize problem worth $1 million.
OpenAI said it used AI to solve Navier-Stokes. This is one of seven hard math problems that have puzzled researchers worldwide.
Australian mathematician Tristan Buckmaster says this has shown something darker. AI has made it pointless for academics to race to solve hard problems.
Buckmaster and his research partner Levent Alpöge work at Anthropic, OpenAI's rival. They were close to solving it themselves.
Buckmaster claims OpenAI tried to push them aside. It offered to publish their work only if he removed his partner's name.
Buckmaster told the ABC about a bigger worry. Private companies now control the resources.
They publish answers to problems that have puzzled mathematicians for decades. He warned that mathematicians are hiding their work.
They do this to keep AI companies from learning about their plans. Buckmaster called for ground rules between academics and AI firms on how they work together.
- $1 million
- Prize amount
- 7
- Millennium Prize problems
- New York University
- Buckmaster affiliation
- Anthropic
- Rival AI company
Why it mattersAI can now solve math problems that shaped careers. So researchers need to think again about what academic math is for. They also need to think about who controls discoveries.
