I’ll write romance novels if AI solves all maths, Chinese Fields winner jokes
Chinese Fields Medal winner Deng Yu humorously stated he would write yuri novels if AI solved all mathematical problems, reflecting a broader sentiment of unease within the mathematics community regarding AI's rapid advancements.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Deng Yu, a 37-year-old Chinese mathematician and 2026 Fields Medal recipient, lightheartedly suggested a career change to writing yuri novels if artificial intelligence ever fully masters mathematics. His social media post highlighted a prevailing "atmosphere of restlessness and impatience" among mathematicians grappling with AI's potential to render their work obsolete, though he per…
Imagine a super-smart robot that can solve really tricky puzzles, even ones that grown-up mathematicians find hard. A famous Chinese math wizard, Deng Yu, joked that if this robot could solve ALL math puzzles, he'd just go home and write fun stories instead of doing math. It shows how smart people are thinking about what these robots mean for their jobs, but he also thinks math will find new ways to be important.
Analysis
The humorous remark by Deng Yu, a recipient of the prestigious Fields Medal, underscores a significant undercurrent of anxiety and contemplation within the global scientific community, particularly among mathematicians, regarding the accelerating capabilities of artificial intelligence. His jest about writing romance novels serves as a lighthearted coping mechanism for a serious professional concern: the potential for AI to fundamentally alter or even supersede human intellectual endeavors in complex fields like mathematics. This sentiment is not isolated but reflects a broader discussion about the future of work and human creativity in an AI-dominated landscape.
Deng Yu
Deng Yu, a 37-year-old Chinese mathematician, has emerged as a prominent voice in the discussion surrounding AI's impact on his field, particularly after winning the 2026 Fields Medal. His social media post, where he quipped about writing "yuri novels" if AI could solve all mathematical problems, quickly gained traction, revealing a blend of humor and underlying concern. Despite the jest, Deng clarified to the South China Morning Post that he does not believe AI will reach a point where it can solve all mathematical problems, especially those he focuses on. His perspective offers a nuanced view, acknowledging AI's disruptive potential while maintaining confidence in the unique aspects of human mathematical inquiry.
Yuri Novel
The specific mention of a "yuri novel" by Deng Yu adds a personal and cultural dimension to his commentary. Yuri is a genre of Japanese novels and comics that explores intimate friendships and romantic relationships between women, a genre Deng is known to be a fan of. This detail humanizes the mathematician, showing a personal interest outside his rigorous academic pursuits. The choice of this particular genre for his hypothetical backup career highlights the stark contrast between the abstract, logical world of mathematics and the creative, emotional realm of storytelling, emphasizing the profound shift he imagines if AI truly masters his current domain.
Mathematical Circles
Deng Yu's observation that AI has created "an atmosphere of restlessness and impatience" in mathematical circles is a critical insight into the current state of the discipline. As AI models demonstrate increasing prowess in problem-solving and pattern recognition, mathematicians are forced to confront the implications for their own roles and methodologies. However, Deng also expresses a belief that this initial "wavefront" of disruption will pass, leading to a clearer situation where "mathematics will naturally adapt slowly, and a new ecosystem is gradually taking shape." This suggests a hopeful outlook for integration and evolution rather than outright obsolescence, envisioning a future where human mathematicians and AI collaborate or specialize in complementary areas.
Key points
- Deng Yu, a Chinese Fields Medal winner, joked about writing romance novels if AI solves all mathematical problems.
- His comment reflects a widespread "atmosphere of restlessness and impatience" within the mathematics community regarding AI's capabilities.
- Deng Yu personally believes AI will not be able to solve all mathematical problems, especially those he focuses on.
- He anticipates that mathematics will adapt to AI advancements, leading to a new ecosystem in the field.
The mathematician's perspective suggests that while AI presents challenges, the field of mathematics will "naturally adapt slowly, and a new ecosystem is gradually taking shape." This implies a future where AI could become a powerful tool, augmenting human capabilities rather than replacing them entirely, leading to new avenues of research and discovery.
The article highlights that mathematicians are "grappling with the threat that they could become obsolete" due to AI's advancements. This concern points to a potential future where human expertise in certain mathematical domains might be devalued or overshadowed, creating significant professional anxiety and requiring a fundamental re-evaluation of career paths.
