Inspiration ...

Yours truly lacks the ability to do math like trig and calculus, which frustrates this rube to no end. Being an aspie, abilities beyond the kin of Robert E will remain so for the rest of my life but at least the web enables me to see how other smart people can do higher math nevertheless. :)

The 61st International Mathematical Olympiad, or IMO, begins today. It may go down in history for at least two reasons: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it’s the first time the event has been held remotely, and it may also be the last time that artificial intelligence doesn’t compete.

Indeed, researchers view the IMO as the ideal proving ground for machines designed to think like humans. If an AI system can excel here, it will have matched an important dimension of human cognition.

One gives pause here without question as this bespeaks of inspiration aka, the act of creation.

Solving IMO problems often requires a flash of insight, a transcendent first step that today’s AI finds hard — if not impossible.

For example, one of the oldest results in math is Euclid’s proof from 300 BCE that there are infinitely many prime numbers. It begins with the recognition that you can always find a new prime by multiplying all known primes and adding 1. The proof that follows is simple, but coming up with the opening idea was an act of art.

It always is.