Why mathematician Terence Tao thinks AI must spark a rapid revolution
This year has left mathematicians reeling as AI models are increasingly solving seemingly intractable maths problems. Terence Tao, the world's leading mathematician, says a rethink of the entire field is the only way out of the crisis
Terence Tao, one of the world's foremost mathematicians, warns that the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) pose a severe threat to the field. In an interview at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Philadelphia, Tao argues that mathematicians must take a proactive role in reshaping their discipline. With AI models now quickly solving problems that had eluded mathematicians for decades, Tao believes that mathematicians should not merely passively accept these changes.
Instead, they should organize, become activists, and engage in politics to protect their profession. The mathematician, who has made groundbreaking contributions to various branches of mathematics, likens the current situation to drivers transitioning from horse-pulled carriages to faster, larger vehicles on roads designed for pedestrians.
This shift has resulted in a "traffic jam" of proofs, clogging the channels of peer review and verification. Tao fears that allowing AI to generate and formalize proofs may lead to a loss of meaning, rendering many proofs meaningless to human mathematicians. Tao emphasizes the need for mathematicians to embrace AI technology while also preserving the human element in their work.
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