Openai's Altman on ai's impact on mathematics: from fear to acceptance

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently addressed hundreds of students at Stanford, discussing how mathematicians initially reacted to AI's growing role in the field. Altman described a progression from disbelief and fear to anger and eventually acceptance. He noted that mathematicians first feared AI would render their field obsolete, then expressed frustration at OpenAI's advancements, and finally began to see AI as an essential tool. Altman remains optimistic about AI's future in mathematics, contrasting with many mathematicians who view the shift as a loss of the field's 'romantic era'. In September 2026, OpenAI claimed to solve a long-standing mathematical problem, the Navier-Stokes equations, sparking controversy. Several mathematicians criticized OpenAI for using their data and for not sharing the solution's derivation. A student-led 'math marathon' competition aimed to harness AI for solving unsolved problems, but faced backlash and was later modified. Over 700 scholars signed a letter criticizing the event, leading to OpenAI's withdrawal from sponsorship. Altman argues that mathematics is undergoing a rapid transformation, faster than other fields. He downplays fears of mass unemployment, but acknowledges the significant impact AI is having on the discipline.