Terence Tao: About AI
It appears that this text is a transcript of a speech or conversation between two individuals, likely in an academic setting. The topics discussed include mathematics, artificial intelligence (AI), proof assistants, and the process of choosing research topics.
Here are some key points from the conversation:
- The speaker discusses the idea of changing the foundations of mathematics to homotopy type theory, which is a more robust approach that can handle changes in underlying assumptions.
- They mention the use of proof assistant languages like Lean, but note that it’s not based on homotopy type theory and is instead focused on formalizing traditional mathematics.
- The speaker expresses hope for the development of automatic translation methods between different proof languages, which they believe would be a valuable application of AI in mathematics.
- They discuss their own experience going to university at a young age (13) and note that it was not necessarily a determining factor in their success as a mathematician. They emphasize that every person is different and should pursue their education when they are ready.
- The speaker talks about how they choose research topics, citing the importance of social interactions with other mathematicians and attending events to spark interesting conversations and potential research questions.
- Finally, they mention the increasing need for flexibility in mathematics research due to the rapid development of AI and the changing nature of mathematical problems.
The conversation is quite informal and conversational, with the speaker using colloquial expressions and acknowledging their own uncertainty on certain points.
Translation
Reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e049IoFBnLA