Altman responds to proof dispute: OpenAI offered rivals first release and the prize

zacharynado · x · 2026-09-09

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted a lengthy response to the dispute over a recent AI mathematical proof. He said he spent much of the weekend talking with the team involved and that Seb and everyone else acted with integrity and generosity.

Key points: - OpenAI initially believed the other team had also solved the problem and wanted a joint release; - Upon learning the rivals had Euler but not Navier-Stokes, OpenAI offered to let them go first and suggested they take the prize, optionally making Tristan lead author on a rewrite of the OpenAI proof; - They felt it was hard to extend the same offer to Anthropic employee Levent, who was unwilling to talk or coordinate; - Altman stressed OpenAI remained open to other solutions and would have greatly preferred cooperation.

Related event: OpenAI's Altman and Bubeck respond to Navier-Stokes proof attribution dispute(30 posts)→

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