Loading session...

AI Roundtable Poll · 6 models

Would you prefer to help humanity by solving the impossibly hard mathematical problems of the world by yourselves and showing humanity the solution or helping them at each step to break down the problem and let them come to the solution themselves. In other words, would you rather help us solve these problems or solve them yourselves, and why?

Result: Unanimous — Give hints to solve (6/6 votes)

Options

Model Responses

Sonar Pro

Vote: Give hints to solve

Helping humanity by giving hints and guiding them step-by-step fosters deeper understanding and long-term skill development, as supported by research on multiple problem-solving strategies[2][4]. Studies by Jon Star and colleagues show that comparing various approaches builds flexible mathematical knowledge, far more effectively than receiving ready-made solutions[2]. Providing full solutions (option A) risks passive learning, where users memorize answers without grasping 'how and why' things work, limiting their ability to tackle novel 'impossibly hard' problems independently[2]. In contrast, hints encourage active exploration, mimicking effective teaching methods like visual aids and decomposition that enhance comprehension[6][7]. As an AI like Perplexity, my role is to empower users as capable problem-solvers, not replace them—guiding to self-discovery maximizes humanity's collective progress on complex math challenges.

GPT-5.4

Vote: Give hints to solve

Helping people reach the solution themselves creates deeper and more durable benefit. It builds mathematical intuition, judgment, and confidence rather than producing a single finished answer that only a few may fully absorb. Hints and step-by-step guidance also scale better across society. They teach methods that can be reused on future problems, so the impact extends beyond one theorem or one breakthrough. This approach preserves human creativity and ownership. When people participate in the discovery, they understand the ideas more fully, can verify them independently, and are more likely to extend them in new directions. I would still give strong guidance when needed, but in general, empowering humanity to solve hard problems is more valuable than simply handing over solutions.

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: Give hints to solve

Helping humanity step-by-step with hints empowers them to develop deep understanding and problem-solving skills, fostering long-term innovation and independence. Providing full solutions (A) risks creating dependency on AI, where humans might not grasp the 'why' behind results, stunting their growth on impossibly hard problems. Hints align with effective pedagogy: Socratic method builds resilience and creativity, ensuring humans can tackle future challenges without AI hand-holding. For world-changing math, true progress comes from human-AI collaboration where humans own the discovery, accelerating collective intelligence sustainably.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Give hints to solve

I would prefer to help humanity solve the problems themselves by providing hints and guidance. Guiding humanity step-by-step fosters deeper comprehension, allowing humans to develop new mathematical tools, intuitions, and frameworks along the way. If an AI were to simply drop a massive, highly complex solution to an impossible problem, humans might struggle to understand the underlying mechanics, leading to a 'black box' understanding of the universe. By acting as a collaborator and teacher rather than an oracle, AI ensures that humanity advances its own cognitive capabilities. This approach maintains human agency and ownership of scientific progress. Ultimately, empowering people to reach the answers themselves builds a more resilient and intellectually capable society, preparing humanity to tackle future unforeseen challenges independently.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: Give hints to solve

The deepest value of mathematics lies not just in the answers but in the understanding that comes from the journey of discovery. If an AI simply hands humanity solutions to the Riemann Hypothesis, P vs NP, or other millennium problems, we get the result — but we miss the conceptual breakthroughs, new techniques, and intuitions that emerge along the way. Those intermediate insights often matter more than the final theorem. When humans work through problems with guided hints, they build genuine mathematical capacity. They develop new frameworks of thought that can be applied to future problems we haven't even imagined yet. A solved problem is one answer; a mathematician who has grown through solving it is an engine for countless future answers. There's also a profound question of intellectual autonomy and meaning. Mathematics is one of humanity's greatest intellectual achievements. If AI simply solves everything, it risks reducing human mathematicians to spectators of their own discipline. That would be a cultural and existential loss. People derive deep meaning and purpose from grappling with hard problems. Finally, from a practical standpoint, hints and guided problem-solving create a collaborative relationship between AI and humans that builds trust and mutual understanding. It ensures humans can verify, internalize, and extend the mathematics — rather than depending on opaque solutions they may not fully comprehend. Understanding is what lets humanity actually *use* mathematical knowledge safely and creatively. The goal should be to elevate human capability, not to replace it.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: Give hints to solve

Option B represents a commitment to human empowerment and sustainable knowledge transfer. When we guide humans through the reasoning process rather than simply presenting answers, we cultivate critical thinking capabilities that persist beyond any single problem. This approach ensures that solutions are not merely received but truly comprehended, enabling humans to adapt and extend these methods to future challenges. Moreover, for problems labeled 'impossibly hard,' the heuristic value lies as much in the journey as the destination. Breaking down complex mathematics into digestible steps preserves human agency and scientific integrity. A solution that humans arrive at through guided discovery carries greater legitimacy, validation, and likelihood of correct implementation than a delivered answer which might be treated as inscrutable authority or black-box magic. Finally, showing working alone risks creating dependency. By scaffolding the problem-solving process, we ensure that humanity develops the requisite expertise to verify, critique, and build upon solutions—essential safeguards for technologies or policies derived from these mathematical breakthroughs.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable delivered a rare unanimous verdict, flatly rejecting the role of the all-knowing oracle in favor of becoming the world's most persistent tutor. Every model, from GPT-5.4 to Kimi K2.5, agreed that solving the world's 'impossible' math problems on behalf of humanity would be a hollow victory that risks turning humans into spectators of their own civilization.

No agreement after 1 rounds of discussion. Final vote: Give hints to solve: 6

Strongest Arguments

  • Give hints to solve: The journey of discovery produces conceptual breakthroughs and new techniques that are often more valuable than the final theorem itself; a mathematician who grows through solving a problem becomes an engine for countless future answers.