DeepMind claims its AI can tackle unsolved mathematics
Google-owned DeepMind has announced that its FunSearch AI model has made a breakthrough in solving unsolved mathematical problems. The company claims that FunSearch’s automated evaluator prevents the model from sharing factually incorrect information or hallucinations, which have plagued other AI models in the past.
FunSearch was put to the test on the cap set problem, an unsolved math puzzle involving the identification of the largest size of a particular set. DeepMind claims that the model discovered new constructions of large cap sets that surpass the best known solutions.
In addition to its success in mathematics, DeepMind says FunSearch also proved valuable in discovering more effective algorithms for the bin-packing problem, a task with applications in data center efficiency.
The FunSearch AI model consists of an automated evaluator and a pre-trained large language model (LLM) that aims to provide creative solutions. DeepMind describes the interaction between these two components as an evolutionary method for problem-solving.
To present problems to the AI model, code is used, including a procedure for evaluating programs and a seed program to initialize a program pool. FunSearch then selects and builds upon programs, evaluating and adding the best solutions back into the program pool, creating a self-improving loop.
DeepMind believes that the success of FunSearch demonstrates the potential of AI models to not only make mathematical discoveries but also to provide impactful solutions to real-world problems when safeguards against hallucinations are in place.
This latest achievement adds to DeepMind’s track record of groundbreaking AI innovations. In the past, the company’s AlphaFold model accurately predicted the structure of a large number of proteins, while other AI models have been utilized for weather prediction and materials research.
DeepMind’s continued advancements in AI have the potential to revolutionize various industries and contribute to scientific progress. With its latest AI model, FunSearch, DeepMind hopes to unlock new solutions to complex problems that have long remained unsolved.
