OpenAI forms independent advisory group of elite mathematicians to guide AI-math interactions

OpenAI announced a new independent advisory group of mathematicians to advise the company and other AI labs on interactions with mathematical research and the wider mathematics community. The group, called the Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence (AGMAI), will be hosted by Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), a center with historical ties to prominent mathematicians and scientists.

The panel consists of nine members described by researchers as “celebrities in the field,” including recipients of Fields Medals and MacArthur “genius grants” affiliated with institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, and others. OpenAI stated the group will operate independently, with the freedom to offer unsolicited advice, publicly comment on AI’s impact on mathematics, and make its advice public.

OpenAI said the group will advise on reviewing and communicating emerging mathematical results, assessing their significance, coordinating their dissemination, and upholding academic and professional standards in mathematical research. It will also advise on how AI tools can support mathematical research and learning.

The company did not provide details on specific activities or outputs the group will produce. Members will not be paid by OpenAI, and the group can change its membership as it sees fit. OpenAI emphasized that the group’s value depends on members exercising independent judgment and challenging the company’s own views.

Several mathematicians told The Verge the formation of the group raised questions about its scope, influence, and selection process. Concerns included how the nine members were chosen, whether the group can represent the broader mathematical community given its small size, and whether OpenAI will heed the advice.

In a blog post, advisory group member Martin Hairer clarified that the group coalesced after OpenAI approached some members about an external advisory board, but the mathematicians opted to form an independent group instead. Hairer stated the group is “genuinely independent” of OpenAI and other frontier AI labs, and members are not bound by restrictive agreements regarding public statements.

Hairer acknowledged the group is not representative of the entire mathematical community but emphasized that members are acting in good faith to represent the interests of the mathematical community. He also noted that the group receives no financial compensation from OpenAI and relies on the IAS for technical support.