Why AI is Dangerous for Science
Source: New York Times
It was one of the most famous challenges in the history of mathematics: the fluid dynamics problem known as Navier-Stokes, whose solution had proved so elusive that a million-dollar prize had been posted for the genius or geniuses who could finally crack it. Until the other day, that is, when OpenAI announced that one of its advanced models had found an answer at last. And it had taken only half a week.
The proof hasn’t been independently verified yet, but amid all the debate about artificial intelligence and the companies that develop it, it looked like something everyone could feel good about, an example of A.I. truly advancing human knowledge rather than trying to sell us something or control our lives.
In truth, it was precisely the opposite: the clearest evidence yet that generative A.I., rather than aiding scientific progress, may be thwarting it.
For starters, two mathematicians who had been trying for months to reach their own solution to the famous problem say the new proof appears to have ripped off their unpublished work, which also used an OpenAI model. The company, after first equivocating, quickly changed its tune: It said the model it used for the solution had not looked at any of the prompts that the lead mathematician had entered into the OpenAI model within the last two months. Whatever the case, to get to the finish line in so little time, OpenAI had deployed an advanced model not available to the public, using computing power that would have cost an outsider an estimated $15 million. How could regular researchers compete with a secret tool that has the power to steal your work and mint its own money?
Cont'd.
LINK:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/opinion/artificial-intelligence-ai-danger.html