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Mathematics in the age of AI
Summary
Terence Tao’s “Mathematics in the Age of AI” (ICM 2026) explores how artificial intelligence is transforming mathematical research, education, and the broader scientific enterprise. Rather than portraying AI as either a replacement for mathematicians or merely a sophisticated calculator, Tao argues that it should be viewed as a powerful collaborative tool that can automate routine tasks, accelerate experimentation, verify proofs, generate examples, and assist with formal reasoning, while leaving humans responsible for creativity, intuition, judgment, and the development of new theories.
The talk emphasises that mathematics is more than solving problems—it is also about building concepts, communicating ideas, mentoring future researchers, and sustaining a vibrant intellectual community. As AI becomes increasingly capable, mathematicians must adapt their workflows, rethink education and assessment, and develop methods for ensuring the reliability, transparency, and attribution of AI-assisted work. Tao concludes that the greatest opportunities will come from effective human–AI collaboration, where machines enhance human thinking rather than replace it, enabling deeper discoveries while preserving the uniquely human aspects of mathematical insight, understanding, and scientific culture.
ARTICLE [PDF]
Summary
Terence Tao’s “Mathematics in the Age of AI” (ICM 2026) explores how artificial intelligence is transforming mathematical research, education, and the broader scientific enterprise. Rather than portraying AI as either a replacement for mathematicians or merely a sophisticated calculator, Tao argues that it should be viewed as a powerful collaborative tool that can automate routine tasks, accelerate experimentation, verify proofs, generate examples, and assist with formal reasoning, while leaving humans responsible for creativity, intuition, judgment, and the development of new theories.
The talk emphasises that mathematics is more than solving problems—it is also about building concepts, communicating ideas, mentoring future researchers, and sustaining a vibrant intellectual community. As AI becomes increasingly capable, mathematicians must adapt their workflows, rethink education and assessment, and develop methods for ensuring the reliability, transparency, and attribution of AI-assisted work. Tao concludes that the greatest opportunities will come from effective human–AI collaboration, where machines enhance human thinking rather than replace it, enabling deeper discoveries while preserving the uniquely human aspects of mathematical insight, understanding, and scientific culture.
ARTICLE [PDF]
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