OpenAI announces that AI has achieved three scientific breakthroughs, covering mathematical conjectures, computer algorithms, and the Millennium Prize Problems.

OpenAI announced that its AI model has achieved three major breakthroughs in mathematics, computer science, and physics, demonstrating AI’s capability to independently discover and prove complex scientific theories rather than merely answering questions or assisting research. In mathematics, the AI proved the local smoothing conjecture (applicable to all dimensions, which studies how long energy concentration persists in phenomena like waves) and thereby resolved the Kakeya conjecture (on the minimum space required for a needle to turn in all directions within a limited space) and the Stein restriction conjecture (a mathematical problem concerning complex wave patterns). In computer science, the AI overturned the long-accepted exponential time hypothesis, which posits that certain complex computational problems inevitably see their workload grow sharply with scale, suggesting faster algorithms may be developed in the future. In physics, the AI put forward a rigorous mathematical existence proof for quantum chromodynamics (the theory explaining how quarks combine to form protons, neutrons and other particles) and Yang-Mills theory (the mathematical framework describing forces between fundamental particles), involving one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems. OpenAI stated that the mathematics and computer science results have undergone formal verification via the Lean mathematical tool, with proof materials released publicly; the physics findings are currently under review by experts including Nobel Prize-winning physicists. The related results still require further independent confirmation from the academic community.