Inventing theories to avoid computation: the debate over whether AI needs math abstraction
postdocforever · x · 2026-09-10
An exchange on the nature of math in the AI era: one poster argues humans "invent theories" only to avoid computations we can't handle, like not coding in assembly — AI could just grind through brute force. The reply: inventing theories to avoid computation is precisely what we call "understanding" — theories exist so humans can comprehend the world in consciousness, not merely to produce answers.
Related event: 'Vibe Mathing' Debate: Is Theory Just a Way to Avoid Computation?(2 posts)→
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