AI makes discoveries in mathematics, computer science, physics, OpenAI says

OpenAI announced on Monday that its AI models produced three scientific results: proving the local smoothing conjecture in harmonic analysis in every spatial dimension for the first time, disproving the Exponential Time Hypothesis in complexity theory, and providing a mathematically rigorous proof of existence in quantum chromodynamics. Alex Iosevich, a University of Rochester mathematics professor specializing in harmonic analysis, called the conjecture proof a "historic development" and said the conjecture was formulated by his PhD adviser, Chris Sogge. OpenAI, which the article describes as an $852bn start-up, said it used three expert "shepherd" groups to decide release methods, with the mathematics and computer science groups publishing the AI-produced data immediately while the physics group deferred release to write its own interpretation.

AI makes discoveries in mathematics, computer science, physics, OpenAI says OpenAI’s announcement is the latest in a series of claimed scientific breakthroughs credited to AI. OpenAI has announced that its AI models have made several scientific discoveries in mathematics, computer science and physics. The AI giant said on Monday that the three new discoveries concerned the fields of harmonic analysis, complexity theory and quantum field theory. Recommended Stories list of 4 items - list 1 of 4 Jordan attacks Syria in response to Karak church attack https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/26/jordan-attacks-syria-in-response-to-karak-church-attack - list 2 of 4 Jordan strikes Syria after church attack, killing at least seven people https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/26/jordan-launches-air-strikes-in-syria-in-response-to-a-fatal-church-shooting - list 3 of 4 Bolsonaro says police demand passports after Brazil election defeat https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/26/bolsonaro-says-police-demand-passports-after-brazil-election-defeat - list 4 of 4 Romania says Russia-run sabotage network set fire near weapons factory https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/27/romania-says-russia-run-sabotage-network-set-fire-near-weapons-factory Among the discoveries, AI models proved the local smoothing conjecture, one of the central propositions of harmonic analysis, in every spatial dimension for the first time, according to OpenAI. Researchers in harmonic analysis, a branch of mathematics that studies how complex signals and functions can be broken down into elementary waves, had previously only proved the theory in three dimensions. ‘Historic development’ Alex Iosevich, a professor of mathematics at the University of Rochester who specialises in harmonic analysis, said OpenAI appeared to have “cracked” the conjecture in a “historic development”. “The conjecture was formulated by my PhD adviser, Chris Sogge, so it is near and dear to my heart, and the news was a shock at first,” Iosevich told Al Jazeera. “Now I am filled with joy and optimism, because the scientific enterprise as a whole is going to make giant leaps as a result of the AI revolution, and we have the chance to be a part of this historic development.” Iosevich said he expected the field of theoretical mathematics to “change drastically” due to AI. “I feel a twinge of sadness as a result,” Iosevich said. “Many theoretical mathematicians I know feel the same way, but I firmly believe that these feelings will soon give way to the realisation that there is so much we can now accomplish.” “Problems in pure mathematics did not arise in a vacuum,” he added. “Many of them came out of concrete physical considerations, and these connections can now be explored rapidly and decisively.” According to OpenAI’s announcement, its models also disproved the Exponential Time Hypothesis, which relates to the time it takes to solve complex computational problems, and provided “mathematically rigorous proof of the existence” of quantum chromodynamics, which studies the interaction of quarks and gluons. The ChatGPT creator said it had reached out to scientists outside the company to turn its “raw research data into scientific understanding”. The San Francisco-based company said it decided on several different methods for releasing the findings based on consultations with three expert groups chosen to act as “shepherds”. While the groups collaborating on the mathematics and computer science problems opted to make the AI-produced data public immediately, the physics group decided to defer the release in order to write up their own interpretation of the findings, OpenAI said. “All of these approaches involve tradeoffs,” OpenAI said. “On the one hand, the collaborations empower experts to foster unpacking the results and contextualizing them in the broader academic community,” the $852bn start-up said. “On the other hand, choosing initial shepherds necessarily shapes who gets involved first and creates asymmetry of information. We welcome feedback on how to broaden participation and make this process more useful.” OpenAI’s announcement is the latest in a series of claimed scientific breakthroughs credited to AI. Last month, Claude creator Anthropic announced the discovery of a new enzyme said to resemble CRISPR https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/9/24/ai-model-claude-discovers-crispr-like-enzyme-system-anthropic-says , the groundbreaking gene editing mechanism used in treating conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease. Anthropic’s announcement drew mixed reactions among scientists. While some researchers hailed the finding as an exciting development, others suggested that the AI company had exaggerated its significance.