MIT study indicates AI could transform theoretical fields beyond mathematics

According to a study by Neil Thompson, Gabriel Manso and Claudio Mayrink Verdun, reported by Wired, the best AI models went from correctly solving about 2% to about 35% of the theoretical problems examined between mid-2024 and mid-2026. The research examined questions from papers published between December 2025 and May 2026 in areas including probability, statistical theory, economics, high-energy physics, gravitation, cosmology and quantum physics. The researchers tested OpenAI models without internet access, using problems whose solutions were published after the models’ training cutoffs to check whether they had to derive the answers themselves.

Wired says the result suggests that the impact seen in mathematics could extend to other theory-heavy fields, although the study did not cover areas requiring simulations or experiments. Thompson and Manso say experts will still be needed to assess solutions, connect ideas and check for possible errors.