Fields Medalist Says OpenAI Destroyed His Research Field

Hugo Duminil-Copin, a 2022 Fields Medal winner, described his research direction as no longer existing, with at least 16 papers in OpenAI's release touching on interests he had pursued for years.

“They destroyed my field of research,” Duminil-Copin said at the French Mathematical Society.

OpenAI released more than 700 papers earlier this month, presenting them as solutions to hundreds of previously unsolved math problems. The release has prompted discussion about how researchers should assess AI-assisted results and prepare future mathematicians.

Francois Charles said AI is changing how young people enter mathematics and pursue doctoral study, raising concerns about training and career paths. He also said AI could help researchers tackle problems that had been difficult to solve. Stephane Mallat rejected the idea that these advances make mathematicians unnecessary, saying society still needs them.

The Simons Foundation announced a $15 million program last week, with OpenAI and Anthropic participating in its funding. The program plans to support workshops where researchers can evaluate AI results and develop standards for using AI in mathematics.