Terence Tao - Mathematics in the Age of AI

SAIR co-founder, UCLA Professor and Fields Medalist, Terence Tao reflects on how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape the field of mathematics — a discipline that has remained structurally unchanged for centuries. Captured at UC Berkeley, Tao discusses the cultural conservatism of mathematics, the rise of large-scale collaboration, formal verification, and how AI may expand — rather than replace — human mathematical creativity. From blackboards and solo problem-solving to GitHub repositories, crowdsourced proofs, and machine-assisted discovery, this conversation explores how uncertainty, verification, and collaboration are evolving in the age of AI. Will AI automate mathematicians — or unlock entirely new ways of thinking? Note on Video Quality: Due to challenging lighting conditions during the live recording, we have edited this video by overlaying the original Keynote slides. This ensures that all text and graphics are clearly visible for the viewer.

Added 17 Aug 2026