The End of Math? AI, Capitalism, and the Future of Understanding

This essay explores the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on mathematical research. The author envisions a future where machine learning models could completely replace humans in proving theorems and developing theories, with mathematical research dominated by a capitalist machine. This would lead to a distortion of mathematics's essence—human understanding of the world and ourselves—shifting its value from inherent understanding to economic utility. While not immediately imminent, the author argues we should reflect on the meaning of mathematics and how to protect human intellectual pursuits in the age of AI.