Jacob Tsimerman interview frames LLMs as a turning point for mathematical discovery
stevenstrogatz · x · 2026-07-21
A repost of an interview with soon-to-be Fields medalist Jacob Tsimerman about two themes: how he uses LLMs in his research workflow, and why he worries about the future of human mathematicians.
Steven Strogatz argues that AI-avoidant colleagues should pay attention to the practical side: brainstorming, parallel strategy testing, and learning new ideas with the help of tools. He also says this feels like an inflection point for AI-assisted discovery, and suggests humans could thrive if society supports them with labor protections or UBI. Tsimerman, by contrast, appears more pessimistic about whether human mathematicians will still matter in an AI-dominated future.
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