# OpenAI claims it solved an 80-year-old math problem — for real this time

Published: 2026-05-20 · Updated: 2026-05-20 · Category: Other

Source page: https://www.sipply.dev/story/openai-claims-it-solved-an-80-year-old-math-problem-for-real-c423fc96 · 中文: https://www.sipply.dev/zh/story/openai-claims-it-solved-an-80-year-old-math-problem-for-real-c423fc96

## Summary

OpenAI has made a significant announcement regarding its advancements in mathematical reasoning, claiming to have solved a long-standing math problem that has puzzled mathematicians for over 80 years. The problem in question is a conjecture proposed by renowned mathematician Paul Erdős in 1946. This breakthrough comes from OpenAI's new reasoning model, which has generated an original proof that successfully disproves the conjecture. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the scrutiny OpenAI faced in the past when its earlier models were criticized for overstating their problem-solving abilities in mathematics.

## Key takeaways

- OpenAI's new reasoning model has produced a valid mathematical proof.
- The proof addresses a conjecture that has remained unsolved for over 80 years.
- This announcement aims to restore confidence in OpenAI's capabilities in mathematical reasoning.

## Why it matters

This development highlights the potential of AI to contribute to complex fields such as mathematics, potentially leading to new discoveries and advancements in various scientific domains.

- **Product managers:** For product managers, this breakthrough emphasizes the importance of reliable AI capabilities and the need to manage expectations around AI's performance in specialized tasks.
- **Developers:** Developers should take note of the advancements in AI reasoning models, as they may need to integrate similar capabilities into their applications to leverage AI's potential in problem-solving.
- **Students and job seekers:** Students and job-seekers should recognize the growing intersection of AI and mathematics, as skills in AI development and mathematical reasoning could become increasingly valuable in the job market.

## Sources

- [OpenAI claims it solved an 80-year-old math problem — for real this time](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/openai-claims-it-solved-an-80-year-old-math-problem-for-real-this-time) (TechCrunch AI, 2026-05-20)

## 中文

### OpenAI声称它解决了一个80年的数学难题——这次是真的

OpenAI在数学推理方面取得了重大进展，声称解决了一个困扰数学家超过80年的长期数学问题。该问题是著名数学家保罗·厄尔德什在1946年提出的猜想。这一突破来自OpenAI的新推理模型，该模型生成了一个原创证明，成功地推翻了该猜想。考虑到OpenAI过去因早期模型在数学问题解决能力上被批评而面临的审查，这一成就尤为引人注目。

**要点：**

- OpenAI的新推理模型产生了有效的数学证明。
- 该证明解决了一个超过80年未解的猜想。
- 这一公告旨在恢复对OpenAI在数学推理能力方面的信心。

**为什么重要：** 这一发展突显了人工智能在数学等复杂领域的潜力，可能导致新的发现和各科学领域的进步。

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