OpenAI Researchers on the Future of Mathematical Reasoning
OpenAI Researchers on the Future of Mathematical Reasoning  
Podcast: The a16z Show
Published On: Tue Sep 08 2026
Description: a16z Infra Partner Lisha Li sits down with OpenAI mathematicians Mehtaab Sawhney and Mark Sellke to discuss how quickly AI’s mathematical capabilities are advancing, what recent results reveal about model reasoning, and what happens when AI begins making progress on problems mathematicians have struggled with for decades.Mehtaab and Mark unpack several recent results from OpenAI’s models, including advances in sphere packing and the construction of a non-sofic group. They explain why the surprising part isn’t simply that models can search more possibilities or work longer than humans: in many cases, the reasoning traces look remarkably similar to the work of an expert mathematician, including choosing promising approaches, backtracking when they fail, and combining ideas from across the literature.They also explore what this means for mathematics itself: how the role of human taste and judgment may change, whether AI could produce far more mathematics than humans can absorb, and why models that accelerate discovery may also make sophisticated results easier to understand.Resources:Follow Lisha Li on X: https://x.com/lishali88Follow Mehtaab Sawhney on X: https://x.com/mehtaab_sawhneyFollow Mark Sellke on X: https://x.com/MarkSellke Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: YouTubeFind a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.