Distinguished Lecture Series
Geordie Williamson
Director of the Sydney Mathematical Research Institute
Professor of Mathematics, University of Sydney
September 17-19, 2024
The lecture on Tuesday is intended for all those interested in mathematics. The remaining lectures are intended for a more mathematically experienced audience.
Refreshments will be served 30 minutes before each lecture
| Tuesday, September 17, 4:30 p.m. 245 Beacon 107 Auditorium | Title: Can AI help with hardmathematics? Abstract: The last years has seen remarkable advances in what AI can do. It is perhaps surprising that its impact on research in pure mathematics has been modest. Reasoning, which is so quintessential to the mathematical process, remains a major challenge for current AI systems. I will survey some interesting recent applications of AI in mathematics research. The aim is to shed light both on what mathematicians do and value, and also on limitations of current AI systems. |
| Wednesday, September 18, 4:30 p.m. Gasson 210 | Title: AI as a tool for themathematician. Abstract: In contrast to concepts in research mathematics, the ideas underlying modern AI systems are reasonably simple. I will try to explain some of them. This is helpful towards understanding where and how AI can be used in pure mathematics research. I will also try to highlight some of the practical difficulties that a mathematican might encounter when trying to use AI in their research. |
| Thursday, September 19, 4:30 p.m. Maloney 560 | Title: Case studies at the interface of math and AI. Abstract: I will discuss several examples of work at the interface of pure mathematics research and AI. This will include work I did with the DeepMind team on combinatorial invariance for Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials, work in knot theory by Lackenby, Juhasz and the DeepMind team, and current work in progress with Wagner, Ellenberg and Charton on extremal problems in combinatorics. |