Young mathematicians are reconsidering their careers: 'None of the individual work will matter'
As AI remakes the field of math, some students say they feel like giving up.
TL;DR
- Nearly 76% of polled math graduate students and postdocs are unlikely to stay in academic math.
- 76% of respondents feel less motivated to do research because of AI developments.
- Students are frustrated with academic leadership, describing it as ineffectual and lacking guidance.
- The survey was conducted by MIT-affiliated students, polling 268 early-career mathematicians.
- Recent AI successes, like OpenAI releasing solutions to long-standing problems, have intensified these feelings.
- Mathematicians have gone through stages of disbelief, shock, denial, anger, and acceptance regarding AI's impact.
- AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have made some concessions, including funding and advisory groups, but students remain unconvinced.
- Students feel it's difficult to pursue research when their individual work might not matter in the future.