Harvard Mathematicians Split Over Whether Un-understandable AI Proofs Count
rohanpaul_ai · x · 2026-10-22
After OpenAI's Navier-Stokes claim, Harvard mathematicians are split: does a proof nobody can understand still count as a proof?
The core argument: a proof does two things—it shows a statement is true, and it teaches other mathematicians a reusable method. AI-generated proofs often deliver only the first. Mathematicians value proofs for certainty and technique; an un-understandable AI proof provides certainty but no transferable methodology. The debate exposes a fundamental tension in AI for mathematics: the gap between verified correctness and human understanding.
Related event: OpenAI's Navier-Stokes claim splits Harvard mathematicians over AI proofs(2 posts)→
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