Skip to content
Opens in a new window
Henry Bradford: AI versus mathematicians (Director's Cut)
10 November 2026

Henry Bradford: AI versus mathematicians (Director's Cut)

Maths on the Move

About

There has been a lot of discussion about AI proofs, some of which we have covered earlier in this podcast series. But what actually happens when an AI proof is announced? How much credit should be assigned to human work? How much is hype? We spoke to Henry Bradford, our colleague at the University of Cambridge, about his experience after OpenAI announced a new result in his field of mathematics, concerning non-sofic groups. Through this case-study, he explains the mathematical ideas, as well as the ethical and practical questions that come up with the rise of AI technologies and their use in mathematics. 


You might also like:



    An overview of groups
    A short explainer of the Navier-Stokes equations
    A summary of the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians

This is the Director's cut version of this podcast episode, with more detail about the maths involved. Alternatively, you can listen to the original or you can find out more in the accompanying article.


Maths on the Move, is the podcast from plus.maths.org. We speak to researchers from the frontiers of mathematical science so you can connect with the maths that shapes and explains our world. Hosted by Plus editors Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger.