Terence Tao on the problem with AI doing mathematics: automated problem-solving is harming the field's development
Rohan Paul relays Terence Tao's criticism of the way AI does mathematics, noting that the problem is not whether the proofs are correct. Using Navier-Stokes-related research as an example, Terence Tao says the current situation has descended into chaos; this kind of automated problem-solving is like open-pit mining of problems—it can achieve the immediate goal, but at the cost of harming the field's future development. He believes there is a responsible approach that can advance the field's development, in contrast to this irresponsible approach.
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Terence Tao points out that although AI automated problem-solving can produce results, it may harm the subsequent development of the field of mathematics, offering a perspective for judging how AI conducts scientific research.
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Terence Tao has a problem with how AI is doing math, and it has nothing to do with whether the proofs are correct. 😀
Mathematicians wanted AI as a calculator, not a competitor.
"So, there was quite a lot of activity around Navier-Stokes, and now it’s all kind of in disarray. Eventually, we will recover. I think eventually we will understand that proof, and eventually people will come back into the field, but the way it was done was very suboptimal.
I think there’s a responsible way to solve problems that develops a field, and then there’s this irresponsible way, which is this emerging, sort of automated strip mining of these problems, where you get your immediate goal but at the cost of damaging the future development of the field."
- Terence Tao
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Full video on "New Scientist" YouTube channel, (link in comment)