Mathematical Conversations
What Can History Tell Us About AI and Mathematics?
Everyone is thinking about the changes that AI has or will make to mathematics. What has happened so far has sent considerable waves through mathematical communities but its ripples have travelled much further, stirring emotions and engaging even those who otherwise have very little interest in mathematics.
At the start of this discussion, I’ll mention a few examples from the history of mathematics that can provide starting points for further exploration. These will be the invention of logarithms and the mechanisation of mathematical computation. What did those changes mean for mathematical practice? Can we make any parallels with the introduction of AI or not really? There are also some side questions that we may have time to discuss, for example what happens to the history of mathematics and intellectual history more broadly, and the issue of authorship and hence rewards, honours, ascription etc.