October 19, 2025 News
OpenAI Criticized for Overstating GPT-5 Mathematical Problem-Solving Capabilities
OpenAI researchers initially claimed GPT-5 solved 10 previously unsolved Erdős mathematical problems, prompting criticism from AI leaders including Meta's Yann LeCun and Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis. Mathematician Thomas Bloom clarified that GPT-5 merely found existing solutions in the literature that were not catalogued on his website, rather than solving truly unsolved problems. OpenAI later acknowledged the accomplishment was limited to literature search rather than novel mathematical problem-solving.
Skynet Chance (+0.01%): This incident reveals potential issues with AI capability assessment and organizational incentives to overstate achievements, which could lead to misplaced trust in AI systems and inadequate safety precautions. However, the rapid correction by the scientific community demonstrates functioning oversight mechanisms.
Skynet Date (+0 days): The controversy may prompt more cautious capability claims and better verification processes at AI labs, slightly slowing the deployment of systems based on overstated capabilities. The incident itself doesn't materially change technical trajectories but may improve evaluation rigor.
AGI Progress (-0.01%): The incident demonstrates that GPT-5's capabilities in novel mathematical reasoning are less advanced than initially claimed, showing current limitations in genuine problem-solving versus information retrieval. This represents a reality check rather than actual progress toward AGI-level mathematical reasoning.
AGI Date (+0 days): The embarrassment may lead to more rigorous internal evaluation processes and conservative public claims at OpenAI, potentially slowing the perceived pace of advancement. However, the underlying technical progress (or lack thereof) remains unchanged, making the timeline impact minimal.