What happens to mathematics when AI becomes an oracle?

Mathematics drives the modern world, from social media algorithms to medical imaging. Computers enabled its dominance by allowing us to handle large numbers beyond our human capacity. However, large language models, AI chatbots, and quantum computing are reshaping this landscape. A new book, Big Math: The Hidden Codes That Run Our World, delves into this phenomenon.

Co-written by applied mathematicians Steven Strogatz and Alex Townsend, the book explores how big math is surpassing its creators. Strogatz, known for his work on small-world networks and chaos theory, has also studied the Millennium Bridge's wobbling and synchronicity in crowds. An award-winning communicator, he has written four popular books and hosts a podcast for Quanta magazine.