Terence Tao on AI proofs: clever ideas, but no humans left to explain them
burny_tech · x · 2026-10-10
Mathematician Terence Tao shared mixed feelings on AI-generated proofs. He sees clever new ideas that could bear fruit once digested, building on generations of human work. But he's frustrated that, unlike traditional breakthroughs, no humans are available to answer questions, give talks, publish, or train students around these results. He's excited about tackling previously unthinkable large-scale projects, yet alarmed by the disruption to person-years of patient, deliberate work.
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