Jacob Tsimerman, one of the 2026 recipients of the Fields Medal, has made an unexpected career move by taking a leave from the University of Toronto to join OpenAI as an AI safety researcher. Known for his groundbreaking work in number theory and the André-Oort conjecture, Tsimerman argues that artificial intelligence is advancing so rapidly that it will soon outperform human mathematicians in both the speed and quality of research. Rather than resisting that shift, he believes mathematicians should help shape it responsibly, tells The Atlantic (full article available to subscribers).
Tsimerman’s decision reflects a broader trend of leading academics moving into AI research. He believes mathematics has an important role to play in understanding increasingly capable AI systems and in developing the theoretical foundations needed to make them safe and reliable. Just as mathematics has contributed to fields such as information theory and computer science, it could become central to AI safety.
Although optimistic about AI’s scientific potential, Tsimerman is deeply concerned about its risks. He has warned that advanced AI could pose existential threats if society fails to understand or control increasingly powerful systems. His goal at OpenAI is not to accelerate AI capabilities but to develop mathematical methods for analyzing and verifying the behavior of future models. He argues that gaining practical experience inside an AI laboratory is essential for tackling these challenges.
The article also explores the broader transformation taking place within mathematics. As AI becomes a capable research assistant and, potentially, an independent mathematical researcher, the profession itself may change fundamentally. Tsimerman expects mathematicians to spend less time producing proofs manually and more time evaluating, interpreting, and guiding AI-generated discoveries. While he believes AI will dramatically accelerate scientific progress, he cautions against trusting machine-generated results without rigorous verification. His career shift highlights the growing convergence of mathematics, artificial intelligence, and long-term technological responsibility.
