Category Archives: Mathematics

Putting ChatGPT through its paces

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Persiflage

We are all aware of what ChatGPT can do. I think we would be better informed if we also learn what it cannot do (at least right now!). In order to better understand the current capability of the latest publicly … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Observations from the ICM, Part 1

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Persiflage

My recent post generated a surprising amount of personal emails defending of Philadelphia. I can happily report that, although I didn’t really get a chance to explore the city in any depth, it has at least one excellent cafe. “Thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Look at everything that OpenAI failed to prove!

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Persiflage

I was heartened to see a recent list of results proved by OpenAI here. Heartened because we are now clearly in an age in which AI can truly contribute to serious research mathematics. But also heartened because one can only … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Xena on Counterexamples

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Persiflage

There is an interesting post here on Xena’s blog. I don’t centre “proof” in mathematics to anywhere near the extent that Kevin does, but I think emphasizing that distinction obscures the fact that our opinions about mathematics, mathematicians, and, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The moral panic over AI

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Persiflage

A number of journals appear to have frothed themselves into a moral panic over AI. There is certainly a lot of AI-generated crap appearing in multiple places, and the arXiv moderators are no doubt playing whack-a-mole trying to keep it … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

arXiv endorsement requests

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Persiflage

With the arXiv’s new policies for posting, I am now getting inundated with requests from cranks for endorsements. Here is my suggestion for the arXiv: when someone requests an endorsement, there should be an option (rather than ignoring the email) … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Dick Gross

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Persiflage

Here are some memories about Dick Gross, who sadly just passed away very recently. Nothing was quite as reassuring as having Dick Gross in your audience. Inevitably, when your talk was done, he would both compliment you on it and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Arbeitsgemeinschaft 2026

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Persiflage

The April 2026 Oberwolfach Arbeitsgemeinschaft will be on Arithmetic Holonomy Bounds and Applications to Irrationality, and in particular will discuss some of the results of this paper. For those who don’t know, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft (“study group”) is different from usual … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It wasn’t me!

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Persiflage

I have a gentleman’s bet with another number theorist that I will be able to write a nonsense paper and get it published in respectable journal. To be honest, I barely have enough time to write actual papers let alone … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics, Rant | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Poincaré homology sphere

Posted on January 5, 2025 by Persiflage

This illusion (from the Chicago museum of illusions, and duplicated, I believe, in other similar museums in other cities) “almost” appears to give a tiling of \(\mathbf{R}^3\) by regular dodecahedra, which for a number of reasons is not possible. (It … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Mathematics, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments