In a remarkable development in mathematical research, OpenAI’s GPT 5.2 Pro successfully solved Erdős problem #281, marking a significant milestone in AI-assisted mathematics. Esteemed mathematician Terence Tao described this achievement as “perhaps the most unambiguous instance of AI solving an open problem,” highlighting the potential impacts on future research.
This success is part of a broader trend where AI models, particularly GPT 5.2, are increasingly adept at addressing complex mathematical challenges. Since the past holiday season, AI involvement has been credited in solving 11 out of 15 newly tackled Erdős problems. These developments signal a growing reliance on AI tools like Harmonic’s Aristotle for formalization and ChatGPT for problem-solving assistance, which are rapidly becoming standard in the field.
Despite these advances, human expertise remains crucial, especially for verifying AI-provided solutions and handling more intricate cases. According to Tao, AI systems excel in addressing the “long tail” of lesser-known problems that may have relatively straightforward solutions; however, the collaboration between human mathematicians and AI models continues to be essential for tackling the full spectrum of mathematical inquiries.

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OpenAI's GPT 5.2 Pro solved Erdős problem #281, marking a significant milestone in AI-assisted mathematics. AI models have contributed to solving 11 of 15 recently tackled Erdős problems, with tools like Harmonic's Aristotle and ChatGPT becoming standard in mathematical research. While AI excels at addressing lesser-known problems with straightforward solutions, human expertise remains essential for verification and handling complex cases.

AI Achieves Milestone in Solving Mathematical Problems with GPT 5.2 Pro