AI and Humanity's Long Conversation

Synopsis: Mathematics has been called humanity’s longest conversation. Observations of Euclid, Pythagoras, Euler and Poincaré still occupy the minds of mathematicians today. This conversation has experienced shocks and challenges, including the crisis of foundations in the early 20th century, and the first computer assisted proofs in the second half of the 20th century. We are currently in the midst of another shock, with the rise of formal proof and the first signs of AI systems helping to produce research-level mathematics. This raises questions of fundamental importance: How should mathematicians respond to AI? Will AI systems help (or hinder) our understanding of the mathematical world? Williamson will discuss some recent developments at the interface of mathematics and AI, with the aim of having a clearer picture of this unique point in the history of mathematics.

Speaker: Geordie Williamson is Director of the Sydney Mathematical Research Institute. His research has transformed the field of representation theory and has earned international recognition. In recent years, he has helped pioneer new approaches that combine machine learning with pure mathematics, working with researchers at DeepMind and other collaborators to use artificial intelligence as a tool for discovering patterns, generating conjectures, and exploring complex mathematical structures. His current work examines how advances in AI are reshaping mathematical research, opening new possibilities for discovery while raising important questions about the future practice of mathematics.

Registration: required for catering purposes. Please feel free to join us afterwards for light refreshments.