The Vergecast

AI is dividing the math world in two

October 20, 2026·43 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Over the last several months, the AI industry has set its sights on some of the problems that have stymied mathematicians for years. In some cases, AI models have made huge progress — though exactly how much isn't always obvious. The Verge's Robert Hart explains what OpenAI and others have actually accomplished, the disastrously bad ways the companies have interacted with researchers, and whether there's a future left for human mathematics. Further reading: ⁠Spotify pulls 50 million AI slop and spam tracks from its recommendations⁠ ⁠Adobe Lightroom mobile can now open closed eyes in photos with a simple tap⁠ ⁠Wii Sports is back on the Switch 2, and it rules⁠ ⁠All the drama around AI’s takeover of mathematics | The Verge⁠ ⁠OpenAI keeps bulldozing mathematicians | The Verge⁠⁠ ⁠OpenAI just wants to win | The Verge⁠⁠ ⁠The AI takeover of mathematics has begun | The Verge⁠⁠ ⁠‘Pure insanity’: Mathematicians will need years to make sense of OpenAI’s latest drop | The Verge⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed. We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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