It took OpenAI's agents 130 billion tokens to crack a 90-year-old math problem
OpenAI announced it has solved the 90-year-old Navier-Stokes equations, a complex mathematical problem with a $1 million prize, using 130 billion tokens and extensive AI agent coordination. Despite the achievement, the company stated it would not accept the prize money, with CEO Sam Altman joking about the cost and the 'AI bubble.' The announcement has also drawn criticism from mathematicians regarding the potential use of their research data.
Why it matters
This signifies a major advancement in AI's problem-solving capabilities, particularly in complex scientific domains, but also raises questions about the ethical use of data, the economic sustainability of such large-scale AI endeavors, and the nature of 'solving' problems with AI.
OpenAI sent millions of messages to solve a $1 million math problem. They say they won't ask for the prize. Sean Rayford/Getty Images On Tuesday, OpenAI said it had solved the Navier-Stokes equations, a 90-year-old math problem. OpenAI said its agents used 130 billion output tokens and sent 2.7 million messages in the process. The company won't accept the cash prize, it says. "AI is such a bubble," its CEO joked. Math is hard. And, apparently, expensive. On Tuesday, OpenAI said its agents had solved the Navier-Stokes equations , a 90-year-old set of mathematical formulas that can predict how liquids and gases move. It's so complicated that the Clay Mathematics Institute has offered a $1 million prize to any mathematician who finds the solution. OpenAI said that finding the solution required a lot of resources. Its coordinating AI agents sent 2.7 million messages while working on the proof.
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