When A.I. Comes for Your Purpose in Life

About this episode

Artificial intelligence has gone from struggling with basic arithmetic to helping solve some of mathematics’ most famous open problems — and the field is reckoning with what that means. Steven Strogatz, a professor of mathematics at Cornell University, describes the excitement and grief of watching A.I. take on work that gives people a sense of purpose — and asks what could be lost if machines deliver answers without the human struggle, insight and understanding that make solving problems meaningful. Guest: Steven Strogatz, a professor of mathematics at Cornell University who writes for The New York Times about the future of research. Background reading: • Mathematics isn’t just a game to let A.I. solve — history shows why. • A.I. is mastering the kinds of projects that have long helped to build the careers of young mathematicians. What does that mean for their future? • Steven Strogatz’s forthcoming book: Big Math. Photo: Ian C. Bates for The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcri