Anthropic AI Proves Fermat’s Last Theorem in 11 Days — SkimNews
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- Anthropic deployed multiple AI agents that autonomously generated a formal proof of Fermat’s last theorem in 11 days, using the Lean proof assistant and producing 13 million lines of code
- Claude ran continuously and independently to construct the proof, with human experts only providing high-level guidance when agents lost track of project state
- Prove2Me, a tool designed for human mathematical collaboration, was instrumental in helping AI agents coordinate tasks and maintain project continuity
- Kevin Buzzard confirmed that Anthropic’s formalisation leaves 'no assumptions other than the axioms of mathematics', validating the proof’s completeness
- Mathlib now hosts over five times its previous largest body of formalised mathematics, as Anthropic’s proof includes 29,500 intermediate theorems
- Andrew Wiles' 1995 proof of Fermat’s last theorem has been fully formalised and machine-verified, resolving lingering concerns about logical gaps after its initial error and correction
Why it matters: Mathematical research gains a new foundation: formal proofs can now be built at scale using AI, reducing reliance on human verification. The 13 million-line Lean proof sets a precedent for verifying complex theorems, accelerating future work in automated reasoning and trusted mathematics.
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