By: Emma Yuan

Throughout history, artificial intelligence has existed if not in reality then in spirit. In the Ancient Greek myths the fire god Hephaestus was known to have forged multiple automatons, all with their own consciousness. In the 20th century, the term ‘AI’ was coined.

With more modern technology, we have been able to implement some of these ideas into reality, further incorporating AI into our day to day lives. An existence containing the creativity of a human and the knowledge of a robot had once seemed implausible, and yet is now within reach.

As AI assimilates itself into society, it has replaced much of the human work force. AI has been consuming much of the service sector in various jobs, such as in ordering food, consultation, and advertising.

After all, with access to boundless resources and a far lower margin of error, AI is able to complete a multitude of tasks several times faster than its human counterparts. AI has also shown aptitude in generating text and creating art pieces, making it more difficult for those who spend hours on their craft to stand out.

However, issues involving false information and plagiarism have risen in the midst of such creations. The reduction in jobs has been a common issue as technology develops. Slowly, the range of opportunities offered to humans is narrowed as machines begin to take their place.

One of those fields of opportunity includes mathematics. With constant changes and advancements in artificial intelligence is predicted to exceed or match even the best mathematicians in less than three years.

It is anticipated that AI will soon be able to solve theorems meant for thousands of mathematicians all on its own. With connections entangled everywhere within the limitless web of the internet, AI is capable of solving any simple math problem in an instant. Though more complex problems may require a deeper thought process, in recent times AI has become quite good at mimicking the human psyche.

George Williamson, of the University of Sydney, believes that the discoveries rooted in AI give humanity a chance to “contribute meaningfully to the world.”

Within the roots humanity has dug into this world, artificial intelligence has found its place. But it’s important to find a balance between human nature and AI. As said by mathematician Jordan Ellenburg, “It’s very clear that the question is, What can machines do for us, not what will machines do to us.”