Artificial intelligence systems may be good at generating text, recognizing images, and even solving basic math problems—but when it comes to advanced mathematical reasoning, they are hitting a wall.

"Mathematics is not a game of chess," one Fields Medal winner told CNET. Mathematicians worry AI companies are just trying to win.

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. The simplest ideas in mathematics can also be the most perplexing. Take addition. It’s a straightforward operation: One of the first ...

In December 2025, a group of researchers from around the world, including UC Berkeley math professor Nikhil Srivastava, gathered inside the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing at UC Berkeley.

"I've finished standard problem sets like the Blue Chart, but I can't get started when it comes to mock exams or past papers.