Scott Aaronson: AI labs are solving century-old math problems to show off before IPOs
AnnaCiaunica · x · 2026-10-29
Scott Aaronson observes that AI labs are having their models crack famous century-old math problems to showcase capabilities ahead of upcoming IPOs. His analysis: such problems usually have no real-world use, and mathematicians solve them out of love — but math is verifiable, offering a clean, unambiguous way to demonstrate what a model can do. Unlike a cancer cure or drug discovery, where validation takes decades, math is the ideal stage for capability flexes.
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