Mathematicians warn that AI tools are outpacing human capacity to understand complex systems
A new book argues that large scale computations now exceed human cognitive limits, forcing a reevaluation of how society relies on mathematical models.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Applied mathematicians Steven Strogatz and Alex Townsend argue that the scale of modern mathematics has grown beyond the ability of human minds to process intuitively. In their new book, Big Math: The Hidden Codes That Run Our World, they describe a shift where large language models and quantum computing are creating problems that traditional human reasoning cannot solve. The authors suggest that this gap between computational power and human understanding is reshaping how society functions.
The book addresses the reliance of modern infrastructure on complex mathematical systems. Social media algorithms, package delivery routes, weather prediction models, and medical imaging all depend on calculations that involve massive numbers. Strogatz and Townsend contend that while computers enabled humans to work with these large datasets, the recent rise of AI is pushing the boundaries further. They define this area as big math, a field that now includes problems with billions of variables or parameters.
Strogatz, known for his 1998 paper on small-world networks with Duncan Watts, brings a background in chaos theory and biological synchronicity to the work. His research has examined phenomena ranging from the wobbles of London’s Millennium Bridge to the synchronized flashing of fireflies. He has also written four popular mathematics books, including the 2019 New York Times bestseller Infinite Powers. His co-author, Townsend, is a recent hire at Cornell who specializes in numerical analysis and deep learning.
The collaboration began when Strogatz, as senior faculty, was assigned to mentor Townsend. The two developed a relationship through regular lunches in Risley Hall. Strogatz was interested in the potential of Townsend’s course on the top 20 algorithms of the 20th century. What started as a discussion of popular book potential evolved into a focus on big matrix calculations and eventually the current manuscript.
Strogatz criticized the current publishing trend for focusing on pure mathematics while ignoring the role of computers. He stated, “There are so many books about pure math, as if computers didn’t exist.” He and Townsend, both applied mathematicians, wanted to address the specific class of large problems that cannot be approached in the human head. They note that centuries of mathematical development have scaled effectively to the current computer moment.
The authors draw a historical parallel between modern computing and ancient tools. They cite the fangcheng rectangular array board, a tool used for manipulating matrices with bamboo sticks, as an early example of externalizing math outside the human brain. Strogatz described this practice as a 2,000 year old idea that continues through current technology. The book frames the current era as the latest iteration of this long history of using tools to extend human mathematical capabilities.
