A Fields Medalist says AI can now understand mathematical proofs even when his notes are almost unreadable to other mathematicians. John Pardon explains that until recently, AI was little more than a spelling checker for his mathematical writing. Now, he says, it can examine highly compressed, incomplete research notes and identify subtle mathematical mistakes. For example, a missing condition such as finite or sifted in a statement about colimits can change its meaning. According to Pardon, AI can recognize such omissions by interpreting the broader mathematical context. His assessment is: “The AI understands. 100%.” Pardon also reports that AI has proved several nontrivial lemmas for him. However, he says it has not yet produced a major breakthrough in his own research. Pardon believes AI is changing mathematical research, but he also emphasizes that students must work through easier problems themselves to develop the understanding needed for harder ones. He finds value in deliberately approaching unfamiliar problems, even when AI could immediately explain the answers. Full Interview: futureclass.substack.com/p/j…