OpenAI, the Partition Principle, and Mathematics
A mathematician critiques OpenAI's recent preprint regarding the Partition Principle and the Axiom of Choice, arguing that the work is poorly structured and muddled. The author expresses skepticism about the current integration of AI in mathematical research and calls for better community standards.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing tension between the academic mathematics community and the rapid, often unvetted, application of AI tools in formal research.
By the time I got out of bed yesterday, I had three people ask me if I'd seen the OpenAI announcement that the Partition Principle does not imply the Axiom of Choice. The number kept increasing during the day, and I can see why. I am famously interested in this problem.
Indeed, at least two people asked if I plan on sending Sam Altman a bottle of whisky, as promised in my Problems page. The answer to that is no. And let me explain to you why, and why you should be very angry at OpenAI.
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