OpenAI has recently revealed a solution to the longstanding Navier-Stokes problem, a critical mathematical challenge related to fluid dynamics. The announcement was made on Tuesday, showcasing the use of an advanced internal AI model, noted to be more advanced than the newly deployed GPT-6 Astra, and supported by 10,000 concurrent agents.
The Navier-Stokes problem, part of the renowned Millennium Prize Problems, has puzzled mathematicians for over 90 years and carries a $1 million reward for its solution. OpenAI’s achievement is a profound development within the field of mathematics, but it has sparked controversy amid claims from another group of researchers who were close to a related breakthrough.
Contention Over Data Usage
Just a day before OpenAI’s breakthrough, Professor Tristan Buckmaster from New York University, in collaboration with Levent Alpöge of Anthropic, published findings on a related mathematical issue. Buckmaster suspects that OpenAI may have utilised insights gained through Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s Codex, platforms that they had been actively using for their research drafts.
According to Buckmaster, he reached out to OpenAI to inquire if the AI models had leveraged their work without explicit permission. Although OpenAI assured that user data was not exploited, Buckmaster remains unconvinced as he did not receive a clear response regarding whether their training included referencing such data.
OpenAI’s Defence
Addressing the allegations, OpenAI stated that no specific user data was consulted in deciphering the Navier-Stokes equation. They did, however, acknowledge the slight possibility that de-identified data from users might have contributed to refining their models. Sebastien Bubeck from OpenAI added that the proofs by Buckmaster and Alpöge were not visible to them until they were publicly released, emphasizing that their approaches and conclusions were distinctly different.
Buckmaster, on the other hand, claimed on social media that OpenAI has essentially admitted to using training data obtained after his team’s discovery. Despite the ongoing dispute, OpenAI has expressed that they do not intend to claim the $1 million prize associated with solving the Millennium Prize Problems.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theverge.com.