Sign in

Jacob Aron

@jjaron.bsky.social
5.9K followers 3.6K following 5.1K posts

Senior editor at New Scientist

PostsRepliesMedia
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 5h
Excellent reporting on the mathspocalypse www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
theverge.com
‘Pure insanity’: Mathematicians will need years to make sense of OpenAI’s latest drop
Careers upended overnight, academics will have to separate solutions from slop while OpenAI moves on.
042
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Micah @rincewind.run · 6h
if your agents are going to commit crimes, you are legally responsible if you cannot figure out how to prevent your agents from doing crimes, you’re going to have to choose between releasing them and protecting yourself from criminal liability imo this would do more for “ai safety” than a sex cult
351405269
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
When's that IPO coming, Sam? www.ft.com/content/b66a...
ft.com
OpenAI annualised revenues $20bn less than previously signalled
AI group recently told investors the critical figure was nearing $50bn in September, far less than the $70bn widely reported
020
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
It did do a breakthrough!
100
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Trump now says anyone not using "super intelligence" is "the enemy" so I guess put me on the list
150
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
In case you missed this news yesterday
130
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
News from me: there are two versions of OpenAI's Navier-Stokes proof, one for humans, one for computers. Now it seems that they don't match. That does NOT mean OpenAI hasn't solved Navier-Stokes (both proofs can be correct) but it does mean that there are big questions about trusting AI mathematics
newscientist.com
OpenAI mistranslated mathematics into code for its Navier-Stokes proof | New Scientist
When OpenAI announced its surprise solution to the Navier-Stokes problem, it produced one proof for humans and one for computers – however, they don't match
1134
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
For my second AI Explained column of the week, I take a look at Trump's "super intelligence" rebranding and explain that he's just one of a long line of people attempting to rename AI www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
AI or ‘super intelligence’? Trump isn’t the only one who is confused | New Scientist
US President Donald Trump has declared that artificial intelligence should now be called “super intelligence”. Columnist Jacob Aron explains where that term came from and explores whether its many his...
201
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
This is ridiculous. You cannot be "cruel" to software www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
theverge.com
Anthropic bans ‘abusive or cruel behavior’ toward Claude
The usage policy update also adds new rules addressing propaganda campaigns, surveillance, and weapon development.
162
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Just watched Cool Runnings with my daughter, and what an excellent film it still is
070
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Oh, but what is intelligence? Well, we haven't cracked that one either
000
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Then computer scientists wrestled control, giving us narrow and general AI. From there it was a quick jump to artificial general intelligence (AGI) and later superintelligence
100
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Back in the 1980s, the talk was of weak vs strong AI
100
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
For my second AI Explained column of the week, I take a look at Trump's "super intelligence" rebranding and explain that he's just one of a long line of people attempting to rename AI www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
AI or ‘super intelligence’? Trump isn’t the only one who is confused | New Scientist
US President Donald Trump has declared that artificial intelligence should now be called “super intelligence”. Columnist Jacob Aron explains where that term came from and explores whether its many his...
201
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The big question is what happens next. Can we trust autoformalisation at scale if no one can feasibly check the work?
020
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
OpenAI says it stands by the NS proof
120
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
How can both proofs still be true? I tried to use the most simple maths I can in order to make an analogy
120
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
News from me: there are two versions of OpenAI's Navier-Stokes proof, one for humans, one for computers. Now it seems that they don't match. That does NOT mean OpenAI hasn't solved Navier-Stokes (both proofs can be correct) but it does mean that there are big questions about trusting AI mathematics
newscientist.com
OpenAI mistranslated mathematics into code for its Navier-Stokes proof | New Scientist
When OpenAI announced its surprise solution to the Navier-Stokes problem, it produced one proof for humans and one for computers – however, they don't match
1134
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
You will step in a puddle within 30 seconds of wearing these and instantly regret it
200
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
They were employing ChatGPT for a classic use case: generating paperwork that no one is going to read
044
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Pleased to announce that I am launching AI Explained, a weekly column on how to understand AI. The first edition today is all about OpenAI's maths dump www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
OpenAI has dumped 722 maths papers – now it must clean up the mess | New Scientist
OpenAI is using mathematics as a test site for its most capable AI models, and that means it has a responsibility to deal with the fallout, rather than just leaving it to mathematicians, says Jacob Ar...
2124
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
My review of The AGI Chronicles by Kevin Roose. It's well worth your time, even if you have to read past Roose being incredibly AGI-pilled www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
Don't know where to start with AI? Kevin Roose's new book has answers | New Scientist
The AGI Chronicles review: Don't know where to start with AI? This new book has answers
011
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
My leader this week was written before the OpenAI maths dump, but is only more relevant now www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
Why gatekeeping is needed in the age of AI | New Scientist
Large language models have unleashed a torrent of text – dealing with it won't be easy
041
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
No, that was different. Some Erdos problem solutions were genuinely already in the literature, some required further work that the AI was able to do by connecting ideas in existing literature that had not yet been connected. The vast majority of these new results is the latter case
000
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Not quite because OpenAI is using an unreleased model, but essentially yes
000
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I felt physical disgust in response to this
020
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Another example of OpenAI scooping mathematicians who were using ChatGPT. I don't think this suggests OpenAI is training on mathematicians' accounts, but rather these results were low-hanging fruit waiting to be assembled from the literature. Doesn't make it any better for the people involved, tho
240
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Antonio E. Porreca 🐳 @aeporreca.org · 07/10/2026
The Association for Human Mathematics (AHM) statement on OpenAI’s October 6 release of mathematical documents just dropped! www.ahmath.org/statements
AHM Statement on OpenAI’s October 6 Release of Mathematical Documents

Yesterday, on October 6th, 2026, OpenAI – which is currently defending lawsuits against accusations of illegal plagiarism, copyright infringement, and trademark dilution – released a repository of manuscripts purporting to contain solutions to a number of high-profile problems in mathematics.

Mathematicians did not ask for this work to be done. The Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, from whom OpenAI has claimed to derive its legitimacy, opened their initial advisory statement by saying that frontier AI corporations should not test advanced mathematical problems on internal models. In ignoring the central premise of the Advisory Group’s position, OpenAI has indicated total disregard for the norms of scientific research — norms that guarantee that mathematics remains trustworthy, ethically researched, and in the public interest.

Mathematicians have a particular vision of progress that is informed by history and field-specific considerations. We reject OpenAI's assertion that this release advances our subject, and we urge mathematicians and the public to view the value of this publication model with due skepticism. 

Releasing over 700 files at once is not a demonstration of scholarship, but a demonstration of power. We urge mathematicians to discontinue their work with OpenAI and to return to a vision of science that centers human understanding.

Association for Human Mathematics
Communications Working Group
14435201
Reposted by Jacob Aron
KaL the GhouLecKo @kaly.myatproto.social · 08/10/2026
Frustrating to see people post or repost shit that is factually incorrect but hey it reaffirms how they feel about something so don't bother checking if the headline is truthful, you've got the right opinion so really everything will just line up with what you think right?!
141
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
My review of The AGI Chronicles by Kevin Roose. It's well worth your time, even if you have to read past Roose being incredibly AGI-pilled www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
Don't know where to start with AI? Kevin Roose's new book has answers | New Scientist
The AGI Chronicles review: Don't know where to start with AI? This new book has answers
011
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
My leader this week was written before the OpenAI maths dump, but is only more relevant now www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
Why gatekeeping is needed in the age of AI | New Scientist
Large language models have unleashed a torrent of text – dealing with it won't be easy
041
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Reentry looks pretty terrifying!
130
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
New use of AI unlocked - pulling the dozens of documents from a planning application on a hard-to-navigate council website and presenting them in a single, easy-to-read website
160
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
One very rough comparison is that this is about a decade of papers published in the top maths journal, although do take that with a very large pinch of salt
000
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Key points: this still isn't AGI
111
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I was actually planning to run an entirely different column (and indeed had already written it!) which will hopefully be published later this week instead
100
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Pleased to announce that I am launching AI Explained, a weekly column on how to understand AI. The first edition today is all about OpenAI's maths dump www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
OpenAI has dumped 722 maths papers – now it must clean up the mess | New Scientist
OpenAI is using mathematics as a test site for its most capable AI models, and that means it has a responsibility to deal with the fallout, rather than just leaving it to mathematicians, says Jacob Ar...
2124
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Ben Brubaker @benbenbrubaker.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
OpenAI’s big math dump last night included a proof of the unique games conjecture, one of the most famous open question in complexity theory. Three weeks ago, three computer scientists settled a closely related conjecture “the old-fashioned way.” My latest for @quantamagazine.org:
quantamagazine.org
As AI Closed In on ‘Unique Games’ Proof, Researchers Raced to Beat the Machines | Quanta Magazine
In the shadow of a rumored AI proof of one of the biggest problems in their field, three computer scientists rushed to publish their own milestone result.
0178
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
How mathematicians are feeling today... although some of the grails may turn out to be just poorly made novelty mugs
152
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Getting Claude to build me an X digest pipeline so I can monitor AI stuff 🙃
010
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Here's our news story from @sparkes.bsky.social, I should hopefully have another piece later today to follow www.newscientist.com/article/2592...
newscientist.com
OpenAI announces 722 mathematical discoveries in one go | New Scientist
AI has been growing ever more capable in mathematics and OpenAI has now released hundreds of papers at the same time – to the astonishment of mathematicians
010
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
@littmath.bsky.social posts far more on X though!
110
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Just came across this line I wrote in a 2014 story, which seems to now be worryingly wrong: "A computer-verified proof of a 400-year-old problem could pave the way for a new era of mathematics, in which machines do the grunt work and leave humans free for deeper thinking."
newscientist.com
Proof confirmed of 400-year-old fruit-stacking problem | New Scientist
A long-awaited computer-verified proof could unlock new human-computer maths collaborations
050
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I'm clearly not following the right people then - can you share?
200
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I'm wondering how to extend this analogy for OpenAI's latest maths dump and drawing a blank. The volume of results is just hard to get your head around
130
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Stunned by the scale of the OpenAI maths dump. And unfortunately, X is much better for following discussion about it - BlueSky just doesn't care, as far as I can tell. More thoughts from me later today once I've had a chance to digest more! openai.com/index/sharin...
openai.com
Sharing AI progress in mathematics
OpenAI publishes new results on open problems in mathematics from an internal frontier model and shares Lean proof formalizations and research details on GitHub.
361
Reposted by Jacob Aron
Extreme Temperatures Around the World @extremetemps.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Another summery day in FRANCE with 3 stations up to 31C. New record of October max. temperature:26.7C at Signy L' Abbaie. Since May, temperatures have exceeded 30C every day in France. Incredible streak of 4 months and a half. Map:Meteociel
09548
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
My recent column is probably also worth a read www.newscientist.com/article/2591... "mathematics is like one big multiplayer puzzle, and once AI has joined the game, it is impossible to ignore"
newscientist.com
Can mathematicians still refuse to use AI at this point? | New Scientist
There’s no question AI has transformed the field of mathematics in the past few months. Columnist Jacob Aron wonders if it will soon be impossible to be an AI refusenik and continue working in the fie...
020
Jacob Aron @jjaron.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
As Terence Tao told New Scientist recently, this is not ok
03716
Reposted by Jacob Aron
RedScharlach @redscharlach.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
NO. DO NOT DO THIS. Do NOT think about The Event and under NO circumstances attempt to relive The Event. This may cause DISTRESS and CONFUSION. REMAIN INDOORS.
A double decker London bus with a poster on the side of it, saying “Relive the Event”. The poster is advertising Disney+ and the event in question is the Oasis reunion tour.
630488