7h ago

OpenAI announces one of its models identified new constructions for the planar unit distance problem first posed by Paul Erdős in 1946 that outperform square-grid arrangements long assumed optimal

Marks first autonomous AI solution to a longstanding open math problem.

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We're about to find out if we live in a simulation, very soon. @demishassabis just said "we're at the foothills of the singularity" and now OpenAI announces first novel Math problems solutions by AI! Very much looking forward to breakthroughs in physics next!

4:00 PM · May 20, 2026 View on X
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I can recognize some faces here 😀

OpenAIOpenAI@OpenAI

Today, we share a breakthrough on the planar unit distance problem, a famous open question first posed by Paul Erdős in 1946. For nearly 80 years, mathematicians believed the best possible solutions looked roughly like square grids. An OpenAI model has now disproved that belief, discovering an entirely new family of constructions that performs better. This marks the first time AI has autonomously solved a prominent open problem central to a field of mathematics.

7:06 PM · May 20, 2026 · 6M Views
4:22 AM · May 21, 2026 · 780 Views

roughly a month late… and directly from OpenAI using a general model rather than a scaffold company

OpenAIOpenAI@OpenAI

Today, we share a breakthrough on the planar unit distance problem, a famous open question first posed by Paul Erdős in 1946. For nearly 80 years, mathematicians believed the best possible solutions looked roughly like square grids. An OpenAI model has now disproved that belief, discovering an entirely new family of constructions that performs better. This marks the first time AI has autonomously solved a prominent open problem central to a field of mathematics.

7:06 PM · May 20, 2026 · 6M Views
5:43 AM · May 21, 2026 · 231 Views

@polynoamial @OpenAI This is impressive

Noam BrownNoam Brown@polynoamial

Today, we’re sharing that a general-purpose internal @openai model achieved a breakthrough on one of the best-known combinatorial geometry problems. Less than 1 year ago frontier AI models were at IMO gold-level performance. I expect this pace of progress to continue.

7:14 PM · May 20, 2026 · 239K Views
11:06 PM · May 20, 2026 · 458 Views

Most predictions I've made about hardware timelines have been too optimistic

Most predictions I've made about AI timelines have been too pessimistic

This field is moving so quickly

Incredible milestone

OpenAIOpenAI@OpenAI

Today, we share a breakthrough on the planar unit distance problem, a famous open question first posed by Paul Erdős in 1946. For nearly 80 years, mathematicians believed the best possible solutions looked roughly like square grids. An OpenAI model has now disproved that belief, discovering an entirely new family of constructions that performs better. This marks the first time AI has autonomously solved a prominent open problem central to a field of mathematics.

7:06 PM · May 20, 2026 · 6M Views
5:10 AM · May 21, 2026 · 9.6K Views

Mysterium Tremendum

thebesthebes@voooooogel

unfortunately openai didn't publish the unsummarized chain of thought, but the summary is 125 pages! the model reaches the crucial idea (which it describes as 'frightening,' i would love to read the unabridged chain of thought here...) on page 39

8:36 PM · May 20, 2026 · 272.7K Views
11:14 PM · May 20, 2026 · 1.3K Views

exclusive internal footage of gpt solving the planar unit distance problem

thebesthebes@voooooogel

unfortunately openai didn't publish the unsummarized chain of thought, but the summary is 125 pages! the model reaches the crucial idea (which it describes as 'frightening,' i would love to read the unabridged chain of thought here...) on page 39

8:36 PM · May 20, 2026 · 272.7K Views
11:59 PM · May 20, 2026 · 9.9K Views

ChatGPT was frightened upon discovery of new math.

Curious behavior. I’m not sure I had an expectation for what an Ai should feel upon making a novel discovery, but fear is interesting.

Not surprise. Not shock. Not glee. Not curiosity.

Fear.

thebesthebes@voooooogel

unfortunately openai didn't publish the unsummarized chain of thought, but the summary is 125 pages! the model reaches the crucial idea (which it describes as 'frightening,' i would love to read the unabridged chain of thought here...) on page 39

8:36 PM · May 20, 2026 · 272.7K Views
11:38 PM · May 20, 2026 · 7.8K Views
OpenAI announces one of its models identified new constructions for the planar unit distance problem first posed by Paul Erdős in 1946 that outperform square-grid arrangements long assumed optimal · Digg