Guardian Editorial Questions Credit Given to Mathematicians in OpenAI's Navier-Stokes Claim

In an editorial, the Guardian discussed OpenAI's September 8 claim that its AI agents had solved the Navier-Stokes problem, one of the most difficult challenges in mathematics, and the reaction it prompted among mathematicians.

According to the Guardian, the announcement led some mathematicians to describe an 'existential crisis' in their field and to accuse OpenAI of misusing human work. The editorial said OpenAI's paper cites sources but that many believe the company did not give sufficient credit, particularly to mathematicians believed to have been close to a solution.

The Guardian also noted that mathematician Tristan Buckmaster has raised concerns that work he was doing on the Navier-Stokes problem using OpenAI's Codex model may have been seen by the OpenAI team. The Guardian said OpenAI has denied directly accessing that material but could not rule out that data from Buckmaster's use of its products 'helped improve' its model.