The article’s central theme is the rapidly advancing capability of AI, specifically GPT-5, to solve complex, abstract problems that challenge even human experts. It questions the future role of specialists in highly theoretical fields as AI demonstrates genuine problem-solving abilities beyond mere information retrieval.
Key Findings and Arguments
The core of the article is an anecdote from Polish theoretical physicist Andrzej Dragan. He presented GPT-5 Pro with a unique and difficult problem from the special theory of relativity concerning the relative velocity of two observers watching a fly. This specific problem, which Dragan himself took days to solve and his top students often fail to solve within a week, was correctly solved by GPT-5 Pro in just over nine minutes. Crucially, the problem was original and not available in any textbook, suggesting the AI engaged in genuine reasoning rather than simply recalling a known solution.
Conclusion and Takeaway
The main conclusion is that AI has reached a new milestone, moving beyond creative and data-processing tasks to excel at abstract, theoretical reasoning. While Dragan’s comment about physicists becoming an “endangered species” is used anecdotally, it powerfully illustrates the profound potential of advanced AI to augment or even surpass human intellect in specialized scientific domains. This event signals a significant shift in AI’s capabilities, challenging our perceptions of which human skills will remain unique.
Mentoring question
As AI begins to solve complex, novel problems in highly specialized fields like theoretical physics, how can you proactively integrate similar advanced tools into your own profession to redefine your role and amplify your expertise, rather than risk becoming obsolete?
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