Fields Medalist Joins OpenAI: 'Mathematics as a Profession May Disappear'

Jacob Tsimerman, a 2026 Fields Medalist, announced at the award ceremony that he is transitioning from pure mathematics to AI safety research at OpenAI. He stated that AI's mathematical abilities have advanced so rapidly that within two years, AI will outperform human mathematicians, leading to the potential disappearance of mathematics as a profession. Tsimerman, who has used chatbots to double his research efficiency, said he no longer admits graduate students because he fears the profession may not exist. He plans to work on AI alignment, focusing on ensuring AI systems behave as intended. Colleagues like Sebastien Bubeck and Boaz Barak confirmed the move. Tsimerman's decision reflects his concern about catastrophic AI risks, including human extinction scenarios. He has shifted his research to AI safety and co-authored a paper on global catastrophic risks.