Henry Bradford: AI versus mathematicians
Show notes
There has been a lot of discussion about AI proofs, some of which we have covered earlier in this podcast series. But what actually happens when an AI proof is announced? How much credit should be assigned to human work? How much is hype? We spoke to Henry Bradford, our colleague at the University of Cambridge, about his experience after OpenAI announced a new result in his field of mathematics, concerning non-sofic groups. Through this case-study, he explains the mathematical ideas, as well as the ethical and practical questions that come up with the rise of AI technologies and their use in mathematics.
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- An overview of groups
- A short explainer of the Navier-Stokes equations
- A summary of the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians
If you would like to find out more about the mathematics involved in the result Henry is talking about, listen to the Director's cut, a longer version of this episode. You can also find out more in the accompanying article.
Maths on the Move, is the podcast from plus.maths.org. We speak to researchers from the frontiers of mathematical science so you can connect with the maths that shapes and explains our world. Hosted by Plus editors Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger.