Joint Statement about Mathathon (terrytao.wordpress.com)

The Caltech-organized Mathathon has been reimagined to focus on "Old Problems, New Proofs," emphasizing the significance of mathematical understanding and exposition alongside traditional problem-solving. This shift seeks to celebrate mathematicians who explore concepts like generalizations and connections rather than solely tackling open problems. Participants will engage with challenging problems, such as the four color theorem and the Navier-Stokes problem, for which they will develop alternative proofs or expositions over two months. These efforts will include sharing their work through various formats and a comprehensive GitHub repository documenting their methodologies and tools, including LLMs and other resources. This initiative is particularly relevant to the AI/ML community as it encourages the examination of AI's role in mathematics while prioritizing human-oriented approaches. By promoting a blend of proprietary and open-source tools without specific sponsorship from proprietary AI models, Mathathon empowers participants to choose their software freely. Scheduled for November 13-15, the event, co-organized with the Foundation for Science and AI Research, aims to foster collaboration among a diverse group of mathematicians and students, reflecting the growing impact of AI in mathematical research while advocating for transparency and ethical considerations in tool usage.