A new artificially intelligent "mathematician" known as the Ramanujan Machine can potentially reveal hidden relationships between numbers.
The "machine" consists of algorithms that seek out conjectures, or mathematical conclusions that are likely true but have not been proved. Conjectures are the starting points of mathematical theorems, which are conclusions that have been proved by a series of equations.
Machine learning, in which an algorithm detects patterns in large amounts of data with minimal direction from programmers, has been put to use in a variety of pattern-finding applications, from image recognition to drug discovery. Hadad and his colleagues at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa wanted to see if they could use machine learning for something more fundamental.
The Ramanujan Machine is a novel way to do mathematics by harnessing your computer power to make new discoveries. The Ramanujan Machine already discovered dozens of new conjectures.
Our algorithms search for new mathematical formulas. The community can suggest proofs for the conjectures or even propose or develop new algorithms. Any new conjecture, proof, or algorithm suggested will be named after you.
We hope that the Ramanujan Machine project will inspire future generations about mathematics and AI-driven science. Please join our mailing list if you would like to get updates on our work.
Source: Raayoni et al;, 2021 Nature 590, 67–73 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03229-4