logoalt Hacker News

qseratoday at 1:30 PM4 repliesview on HN

From the post lol

>So I wouldn't really say that this result is using or creating some fundamentally new techniques in convex geometry or optimization theory. What this means from my perspective is that if a result is attainable with existing techniques, modern AI methods will be able to solve those problems. I don't think researchers in math/TCS will be made obsolete, but I think it will instead no longer make sense to work on any low-hanging, or even medium-hanging (you know what I mean) fruit. We'll be needed for problems where actual novel approaches are needed.


Replies

WAtoday at 1:32 PM

If knowledge is a Swiss cheese, LLMs can help fill the holes, but not make the cheese bigger.

show 2 replies
tripleeetoday at 4:50 PM

this is a fairly bleak outlook even when you're trying to make it sound the opposite. Only the cream of the crop talent will have value going on?

Most of us aren't Terence Tao

monster_trucktoday at 1:32 PM

so it seems like The New Big Question In Math is

How's It Hanging, Brother?

throw310822today at 1:51 PM

The author explains he's an expert in the domain and that he had worked sporadically on the problem for about a year, also with the help of previous LLMs. So whatever he means by "I wouldn't really say that this result is using or creating some fundamentally new techniques" it doesn't mean that the result was trivial. Also, says it might not make sense to work on low or even medium hanging fruits in the future- and I bet that's by far the largest share of work for most mathematicians.

Sure, it's not a breakthrough that opens new roads in mathematics- is this where the goalpost has moved now?