How Will We Agree on New Interesting Problems After AI Solves Current Ones?
Aaroth · x · 2026-08-02
Researcher Aaroth raises a profound question about the future of AI and human research: What happens when AI gradually solves the well-defined "open problems" we currently care about?
- Problem Overhang: We currently enjoy a "problem overhang" because many smart, charismatic people identified these problems and convinced the community of their importance, making us eager to see them solved.
- Social Consensus: However, finding new, interesting problems that resonate with the community is a social process. There are infinitely many difficult, true statements we don't care about. If AI takes over existing challenges, it remains uncertain whether human communities can continue to reach a consensus on new, fascinating problems.
Related event: Who Defines New Problems After AGI Solves Existing Ones?(3 posts)→
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