Artificial Intelligence is making strides in various fields, from poetry to cooking advice. However, when it comes to mathematics, current systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT occasionally struggle with basic problems, highlighting a gap in their reasoning capabilities. To address this deficiency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced an innovative initiative titled Exponentiating Mathematics. This program will enlist researchers to explore how high-level mathematics can be co-piloted by A.I., aiming to hasten advancements in pure mathematics.
Patrick Shafto, a mathematician and program manager at DARPA, acknowledged that advancing A.I. through mathematics could transcend the current limitations of machine learning systems. He stated, “So if we overcome that, potentially, it would unleash much more powerful A.I.” This synergy between math and A.I. has the potential to yield considerable benefits for mathematicians and society.
Alondra Nelson, who has served as a key science adviser during the Biden administration, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that enhanced A.I. capabilities in mathematics could bolster areas like cryptography and contribute to space exploration endeavors.
Established post-World War II to outpace Soviet advancements, DARPA is renowned for facilitating significant technological breakthroughs including the genesis of ARPANET—the precursor to today’s internet. Though being involved in controversial projects like the development of Agent Orange, the agency has continuously pushed the frontiers of innovation, and its current endeavors in mathematics may yield the next transformative breakthrough.
