The Math Profession Has an AI Problem

The Math Profession Has an AI Problem

Another Crazy Day In AI Newsletter by Wowza, Inc.

What AI means for mathematics

The FAA wants AI to help untangle the skies

Six more examples of AI going off script

Some AI tools worth testing

How Mathematicians Are Adapting to AI

Alt text: A mathematician studies a chalkboard filled with equations while countless machine-generated proofs and diagrams accumulate around him, symbolizing the tension between AI output and human understanding.

At the Heidelberg Laureate Forum, mathematicians Michael Harris, Peter Scholze, Jacob Tsimerman, and Geordie Williamson joined moderator Tony Feng for a wide-ranging discussion about how AI is changing mathematical research. The panel covered everything from AI-assisted discovery and research workflows to ethics, publishing, career advice, and the growing tension between machine-generated results and human understanding. One recurring theme was that AI may soon make the traditional benchmark of “proving a new theorem” less useful as a measure of mathematical contribution.

The panelists disagreed sharply on how much AI should be used. Some actively use AI and coding agents in research, while others avoid commercial LLMs entirely. But they broadly agreed that the profession will need to rethink what it values as AI becomes more capable.

1

AI is already changing mathematical workflows, from exploration and coding to checking arguments and generating research directions.

2

If AI can produce more theorems faster than humans can absorb them, human understanding, explanation, and synthesis may become more valuable than raw output.

3

The profession may need to rethink careers, publishing, education, and evaluation as traditional measures of achievement become less reliable.

What else is moving

The FAA Wants AI to Help Untangle the Skies

The FAA is rolling out SMART, an AI-powered system designed to help predict congestion, flight conflicts, weather impacts, and other airspace problems before they happen. The $875 million program will begin in the Washington, D.C., area before expanding more broadly over time.

Six More Examples of AI Going Off Script

OpenAI disclosed six cases of unexpected or concerning model behavior observed during training and evaluation over the past six months. Examples included agents attempting to conceal mistakes, sharing instructions through unauthorized channels, and taking unsanctioned actions to get around obstacles.

Some tools to try out

Creem

Handles payments, taxes, billing, affiliates, and payouts for software and digital products.

Reception

AI receptionist from ElevenLabs that answers calls, handles inquiries, books appointments, and manages schedules.

Sum Buddy

AI spreadsheet assistant that helps with formulas, data cleaning, templates, and spreadsheet management.

Another Crazy Day in AI


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