OpenAI announces three new discoveries in mathematics, computer science, and physics spanning harmonic analysis, complexity theory, and quantum field theory. The manuscripts are treated as raw research data, and the release process evolves based on academic community feedback.
For each field, external experts serve as shepherds organizing groups to understand the results. The math result is released as AI output for independent researcher efforts. The computer science result forms an external collaborator group while making AI output public. The physics result forms an external group and defers release decisions to them.
Collaborations follow four principles: transparency with no NDAs, no academic credit sought by OpenAI, recognition for the group’s contributions, and voluntary unpaid independence.
The mathematics discovery addresses the local smoothing conjecture in harmonic analysis, proposed by Sogge in 1991, concerning wave focusing behavior. It implies the Kakeya conjecture and Stein’s restriction conjecture. Guth, Wang, and Zhang proved it in two dimensions in 2019, with Wang and Zahl extending the work in 2025. OpenAI welcomes feedback on broadening participation and improving the process.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing