What happened
Google DeepMind's AlphaProof Nexus system solved dozens of open problems in mathematics. Among them are nine Erdős problems, two of which had remained unsolved for 56 years.
Why it matters
The results were published in Science, meaning they went through independent peer review before publication. This is a critical step for the scientific validation of AI-assisted mathematical results.
The contrast
The news arrives as OpenAI faces boycott calls over uploading AI proofs to GitHub without peer review. DeepMind, by contrast, had its results reviewed before publishing.
What are Erdős problems?
Erdős problems are open questions posed by the famous mathematician Paul Erdős, with prizes attached to their solutions. A portion of these long-unsolved problems being cracked by an AI system is seen as a significant threshold in automated mathematical proof.
