Mathematicians did not ask for this work to be done. The Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, from whom OpenAI has claimed to derive its legitimacy, opened their initial advisory statement by saying that frontier AI corporations should not test advanced mathematical problems on internal models. In ignoring the central premise of the Advisory Group’s position, OpenAI has indicated total disregard for the norms of scientific research — norms that guarantee that mathematics remains trustworthy, ethically researched, and in the public interest.
Mathematicians have a particular vision of progress that is informed by history and field-specific considerations. We reject OpenAI’s assertion that this release advances our subject, and we urge mathematicians and the public to view the value of this publication model with due skepticism.
Looks like mathematicians are going through the same stages of grief that software engineers went through in the last 1-2 years.
Tao is obviously much smarter than I'm and he knows a lot more about how math research works than I do. However, from a layman's view from 10,000 feet above, these statements look totally nuts. They're basically telling OpenAI or any AI lab to stop using the models for advanced math research so the humans can continue to do it slowly instead. This feels similar to Frank Herbert's Dune novels on banning computers.
What they want won't work for more than a few months at longest. There will be many mathematicians who disagree with this, will use OpenAI/LLMs to advance cutting edge math research, and the mathematicians who don't use it will be left behind.
It's just a tool. Adapt to it. Use it to your advantage.
Tao is obviously much smarter than I'm and he knows a lot more about how math research works than I do. However, from a layman's view from 10,000 feet above, these statements look totally nuts. They're basically telling OpenAI or any AI lab to stop using the models for advanced math research so the humans can continue to do it slowly instead. This feels similar to Frank Herbert's Dune novels on banning computers.
What they want won't work for more than a few months at longest. There will be many mathematicians who disagree with this, will use OpenAI/LLMs to advance cutting edge math research, and the mathematicians who don't use it will be left behind.
It's just a tool. Adapt to it. Use it to your advantage.
Note that Terrence Tao himself is not a member of AHM.
> Releasing over 700 files at once is not a demonstration of scholarship, but a demonstration of power.
One of the best sentences in this short and potent post.
Why?