Mathematicians are torn. They hate AI for potentially undermining their work, but love its utility. Professor Tristan Buckmaster uses OpenAI’s Codex to tidy his research papers, despite accusing the company of copying his approach. Other experts, like Andreas Thom, have seen their work used by AI, sparking discussions on attribution and the future of their field.
Buckmaster argues that AI’s solutions, without proper credit, are irresponsible and could lead to academic obsolescence. He fears his years of work might be sold to other mathematicians or students. Meanwhile, he and colleagues are adapting, using AI to speed up writing papers, raising existential questions about their role in an AI-driven world.
The situation is causing a shift in how science is done. Academics are now questioning their purpose and the role of these massive tech companies. They fear that AI might clean up their work, leaving them with nothing but a shadow of their former selves.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: AI is here to stay, and mathematicians are learning to live with it, even as they grapple with the ethical implications.
