Free AI Chatbot Solves Decade-Long Math Problem in 13 Minutes

After months of reporting on the rapid expansion of artificial‑intelligence tools in mathematics, journalist Matthew Sparkes decided to put a freely available chatbot to the test. Sparkes, who has followed the rise of AI‑driven theorem provers and proof assistants, selected the open‑source model “ChatGPT‑Free” to tackle a long‑standing combinatorial puzzle that has resisted conventional approaches for over a decade.

The chatbot was fed the problem statement and a set of constraints derived from recent research papers. Within minutes, it produced a concise proof that not only satisfied all conditions but also introduced a novel combinatorial identity that had eluded mathematicians. The speed and elegance of the solution surprised Sparkes, who noted that the AI’s reasoning mirrored the style of leading experts while avoiding the lengthy trial‑and‑error typical of human attempts. The result has sparked discussion among researchers about the role of free, accessible AI tools in accelerating mathematical discovery.

If the chatbot’s solution holds up under peer review, it could mark a turning point in how mathematicians approach unsolved problems. Sparkes concluded that the incident underscores the growing power of open‑source AI and suggests that future breakthroughs may increasingly emerge from collaborations between human insight and machine computation.