Mathematical Beauty, Truth and Proof in the Age of AI | Quanta Magazine
Briefly

Mathematics has long centered on the proof, a rigorous argument that defines a statement's truth. While AI has made strides in theorem proving since the 1950s, early efforts fell short of achieving the creative depth required by mathematicians. However, recent advancements in machine learning are changing this paradigm. These developments have allowed mathematicians to discover new patterns and conjectures, significantly aiding research. Although systems able to generate proofs autonomously are still in progress, initiatives like Google DeepMind’s AI are paving the way for future breakthroughs in automated theorem proving.
The best proofs are works of art, combining rigor, elegance, creativity, and beauty, which reflects a distinctly human activity in understanding the world.
Since the start of the 20th century, mathematicians measure their careers by the theorems they prove, spending much time refining insights into logical arguments.
Despite the success of early AI programs in theorem proving, their limitations in complexity and creativity meant traditional mathematical research remained unaffected.
Recent advancements in machine learning have empowered mathematicians to discover new patterns and conjectures while creating proof assistants to verify existing proofs.
Read at Quanta Magazine
[
|
]