OpenAI claims new math and physics proofs

OpenAI announced Monday that its artificial intelligence models produced three new scientific results in mathematics, computer science, and physics. The company stated the findings include a proof of the local smoothing conjecture in every spatial dimension. Previous research by human mathematicians had limited the proof to three dimensions only.

The local smoothing conjecture is a central proposition in harmonic analysis, a field that examines how complex signals decompose into elementary waves. Chris Sogge, a mathematician, originally formulated the conjecture. Alex Iosevich, a professor of mathematics at the University of Rochester, described the AI’s achievement as a historic development. He noted that the news initially shocked him because the problem was personal to his academic lineage.

Iosevich told Al Jazeera that he now feels joy and optimism regarding the future of scientific enterprise. He expects theoretical mathematics to change drastically due to the AI revolution. He acknowledged a twinge of sadness for his peers in theoretical mathematics but believes they will soon realize the expanded scope of what they can accomplish. He added that many pure math problems stem from physical considerations, which AI can now explore rapidly.

Beyond the harmonic analysis breakthrough, OpenAI said its models disproved the Exponential Time Hypothesis. This hypothesis relates to the time required to solve complex computational problems. The company also claimed to have provided mathematically rigorous proof of the existence of quantum chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics studies the interaction of quarks and gluons.

OpenAI, a San Francisco-based start-up valued at $852 billion, reached out to external scientists to convert its raw research data into scientific understanding. The company consulted three expert groups to serve as shepherds for the release of findings. These groups determined different methods for publishing the results based on the specific field.

The experts working on mathematics and computer science issues chose to make the AI-produced data public immediately. The physics group decided to defer the release. They plan to write up their own interpretation of the findings before sharing them with the wider community. OpenAI stated that all these approaches involve tradeoffs regarding who gets involved first and how information is distributed.

The company said the collaborations empower experts to unpack the results and contextualize them within the academic community. It acknowledged that choosing initial shepherds creates an asymmetry of information. OpenAI said it welcomes feedback on how to broaden participation and make the process more useful. The announcement follows a similar claim last month by Anthropic, the creator of Claude.

Anthropic announced the discovery of a new enzyme said to resemble CRISPR, a gene editing mechanism used in treating conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease. Reactions to the Anthropic finding were mixed among scientists. Some hailed it as an exciting development, while others suggested the company exaggerated its significance.