Rumored OpenAI Astra Model Solves Math Problems, Proving AI Skeptics Wrong
Imaginary_Dinner2710 · reddit · 2026-08-01
Reports suggest OpenAI's unannounced model, Astra, found new solutions to 10 mathematical problems during a White House demonstration, impressing scientists.
The author notes that mathematics is an ideal domain for AI self-verification, especially using formal languages like Lean, where models can generate vast numbers of ideas and automatically check if proofs compile. Against this backdrop, the author mocks past skepticism from leading AI figures:
- Yann LeCun claimed "an LLM is incapable of inventing new things."
- François Chollet argued an LLM cannot act as a creative scientist.
- Thomas Wolf warned current trajectories yield "yes-men on servers" rather than systems making real scientific breakthroughs.
The author expresses amazement at how wrong these experts were about LLM capabilities.
Related event: OpenAI's Internal Model Astra Cracks 10 Major Math Problems(99 posts)→
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