OpenAI says its models disproved the Exponential Time Hypothesis.

OpenAI says its models disproved the Exponential Time Hypothesis. Wait what? 🤯

For non-tech people: that's one of the big "this kind of problem can't be solved much faster" assumptions in computer science. They also claim a proof in harmonic analysis for every dimension and something about quarks.

Ryan Williams from MIT says his team is still checking the proof. So not confirmed yet.

But a mathematician from Rochester already called the harmonic analysis one "historic" and said he feels some sadness about it. I get him 😶

Read it on Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/10/27/ai-makes-discoveries-in-mathematics-computer-science-physics-openai-says

If this holds up, what is left for humans in research? Asking the right questions?