In 1915, renowned physicist Albert Einstein presented his groundbreaking equations for the general theory of relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences. While Einstein now epitomizes genius, his revolutionary ideas were initially met with skepticism and indifference, primarily due to the complex mathematics that many of his contemporaries found challenging to grasp.

Today, many tech companies purport that we are approaching an era defined by “superintelligent” artificial intelligence (AI) that could exceed the capabilities of experts and lead to scientific advancements comparable to Einstein’s breakthroughs. As Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, states: The land of data center geniuses. However, such claims often lack substantial evidence, and discerning true genius or superior intelligence remains a complex endeavor.

A significant area of concern within academia is the emerging role of AI in mathematics. In this week’s cover story, discover how mathematicians are expressing anxiety over AI’s rapidly growing mathematical prowess.

Interestingly, this anticipated future doesn’t entirely eliminate the necessity for human intellect. The efficacy of AI innovations underscores the vital role human mathematicians play in the scientific process. Groundbreaking discoveries facilitated by AI, including OpenAI’s recent validation of an 80-year-old hypothesis, gain legitimacy when mathematicians affirm their findings. We explore how humans are already leveraging AI insights to tackle various mathematical challenges.

If this trend extends to other scientific disciplines, it indicates that we may increasingly rely on individuals skilled in utilizing these AI tools rather than on AI itself. While this perception may differ from the superintelligence narrative favored by tech firms, it aligns more closely with the traditional understanding of human ingenuity.

Had it not been for visionary colleagues of Einstein, such as Karl Schwarzschild and Willem de Sitter, who further applied the theory of relativity in predicting elements like black holes and an inflationary universe, the impact of his findings on our comprehension of reality might not be as profound today. Hence, individual genius is rarely sufficient on its own.