What does the rise of AI mean for the future of mathematics?
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This event was filmed at the Ri on 15 September 2025, in collaboration with the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences.
Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to crunching numbers—it is beginning to propose original theorems, sketch proofs and reveal new and unexpected patterns in the abstract world of mathematics. Join Yang-Hui He of the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences—one of the pioneers of AI-assisted discovery— as he explores how machine learning is transforming both the practice and philosophy of mathematical research.
Drawing on his own leading-edge work, alongside insights from a recent gathering in Berkeley where mathematicians challenged a powerful AI to solve problems specifically designed to resist automation, he traces the emergence of a new form of mathematical exploration. By fusing human intuition with computational power, this evolving partnership is reshaping research and redefining the creative boundaries of the field.
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Yang-Hui He is a Fellow at the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences and Chang-Jiang Chair professor at Nankai University in China. After his BA in Princeton and PhD in MIT, he joined Oxford as the FitzJames Fellow and an STFC Advanced Fellow. He works on geometry, number theory and string theory. In 2017, he helped launch the emerging field of AI-guided mathematical discovery, where he continues to play a leading role.
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#machinelearning #mathematics #ai
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