AI systems from Google and OpenAI soar at global maths competition
To OpenAI researchers, it is another clear sign AI models can command extensive reasoning capabilities that could expand into areas beyond maths.
The optimism is shared by Google researchers, who believe AI models' capabilities can apply to research quandaries in other fields such as physics, said Jung, who won an IMO gold medal as a student in 2003.
Of the 630 students participating in the 66th IMO on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, 67 contestants, or about 11%, achieved gold medal scores. Google's DeepMind AI unit last year achieved a silver medal score using AI systems specialised for maths. This year, Google used a general-purpose model called Gemini Deep Think, a version of which was previously unveiled at its annual developer conference in May.
Unlike previous AI attempts that relied on formal languages and lengthy computation, Google's approach this year operated entirely in natural language and solved the problems within the official 4.5-hour time limit, the company said in a blog post. OpenAI, which has its own set of reasoning models, similarly built an experimental version for the competition, according to a post by researcher Alexander Wei on social media platform X. He noted the company does not plan to release anything with this level of maths capability for several months.
This year marked the first time the competition coordinated officially with some AI developers, who have for years used prominent maths competitions such as IMO to test model capabilities. IMO judges certified the results of the companies, including Google, and asked them to publish results on July 28.
"We respected the IMO board's original request that all AI labs share their results only after the official results had been verified by independent experts and the students had rightly received the acclamation they deserved," Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said on X on Monday.
OpenAI, which published its results on Saturday and first claimed gold medal status, said in an interview it had permission from an IMO board member to do so after the closing ceremony on Saturday.
The competition on Monday allowed cooperating companies to publish results, said Gregor Dolinar, president of IMO's board.
Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
Nasdaq edges down from records ahead of big tech earnings
NEW YORK - The Nasdaq retreated from a record ahead of earnings from Google parent Alphabet and other tech giants, while European markets fretted over an August 1 deadline for the EU to avert steep tariffs from US President Donald Trump. Both the Dow and S&P 500 finished higher, but the Nasdaq dropped 0.4 percent to snap a six-day streak of records. Earnings from Alphabet and Tesla are due on Wednesday, the first two of Wall Street's "Magnificent Seven" equities to report this season. Several of the largest tech names -- such as Apple and Facebook parent Meta -- do not report results until next week. Corporate profit reports so far have painted a generally resilient picture of the US economy, but with gathering clouds in some sectors -- particularly automobiles -- from Trump's levies on major trading partners. Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management said Tuesday's drop in Nvidia and some other tech names suggested profit-taking after a heady rise. "It's a difficult earnings season where expectations are really low but stocks are already priced very high," Hogan said. In Europe, only London ended the trading day in the green. Paris and Germany both finished solidly in the red. The European Union is among Washington's trading partners that face potentially steep tariffs on August 1 if they do not strike a deal with Trump's administration. "European markets have been getting increasingly jittery as the (August 1) deadline approaches," said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation. "With little sign of progress so far, investors are preparing for possible tariff retaliation from the EU." US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would meet his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week for tariff talks, as a separate mid-August deadline approaches for US levies on China to snap back to steeper levels.
Mail & Guardian
2 days ago
- Mail & Guardian
AI can advance the sustainable development goals
Artificial intelligence used with intention, inclusivity and oversight improve healthcare and education, as well as mitigate the effects of climate change. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G As South Africa contends with persistent development issues such as poverty, inequality, healthcare disparities, educational gaps and environmental threats, the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant frontier but an essential catalyst for transformative change. AI is already being implemented globally to tackle complex development problems. For South Africa, the question is how to integrate it effectively to support sustainable and inclusive growth. If wisely and ethically harnessed, AI could become one of the most powerful instruments in South Africa's pursuit of the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs). It has the potential to accelerate progress, narrow inequality and unlock the latent potential of South African society. But this potential must be cultivated with intention, inclusivity and oversight. SDG 3: Transforming healthcare and saving lives: South Africa's healthcare system, although marked by moments of excellence, remains strained by disparities in access, quality and resource allocation. The application of AI in this domain holds promise not just for efficiency but for equity. AI-driven diagnostic tools can rapidly detect diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and cancer. Algorithms trained on large datasets can identify symptoms from images or scans with an accuracy that rivals, or even exceeds, that of human practitioners. Moreover, AI can improve disease surveillance by predicting and modeling outbreaks, which is critical in a country still grappling with the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Predictive models based on environmental data, patient mobility and historical records can help public health authorities anticipate and mitigate disease spread before it escalates into full-blown crises. Treatment personalisation is another frontier. AI systems can optimise treatment plans based on a patient's genetic profile, lifestyle data and real-time biometrics, thereby enhancing outcomes and reducing adverse effects. This is particularly relevant for chronic disease management such as diabetes, hypertension, and HIV/Aids, where continuous monitoring and dynamic response are key. In remote or underserved areas, AI-powered mobile health platforms can bring diagnostic and consultation services to communities long excluded from specialist care. SDG 4: Education: In the realm of education, AI is poised to democratise access and personalise learning experiences in a manner previously unimaginable. South Africa's education system, despite significant investment, remains beset by inequality in quality and outcomes, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. AI can bridge these gaps through intelligent tutoring systems that adapt to individual learners' pace, preferences and proficiency. For instance, AI-powered platforms can assess where a student is struggling and adjust content delivery to reinforce those areas, offering real-time feedback and customised learning paths. This degree of personalisation can significantly reduce dropout rates and improve performance across diverse learner populations. Furthermore, AI can support inclusive education by assisting learners with disabilities. Speech-to-text, text-to-speech and natural language processing tools can make content more accessible to blind, deaf or dyslexic students. In multilingual societies like South Africa, AI-driven language translation tools can also ensure that learning materials reach students in their home languages, enhancing comprehension and cultural relevance. Educators also benefit. AI can automate administrative tasks, provide insights into student performance and suggest interventions, freeing teachers to focus on pedagogy and mentorship. At a systemic level, AI can support policymakers by analysing educational outcomes across regions and demographics, enabling targeted interventions and better allocation of resources. SDG 13: Climate change: As the climate crisis intensifies, South Africa finds itself on the front line of its economic, social and ecological consequences. Water scarcity, biodiversity loss and extreme weather events pose existential threats to both urban and rural livelihoods. AI offers sophisticated tools for mitigation, adaptation and resilience-building. Through the processing of vast environmental datasets, AI can produce accurate climate models that forecast the effect of rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and other ecological disruptions. AI can integrate real-time weather data, satellite imagery and hydrological models to improve drought forecasts. These models can guide agricultural planning, infrastructure development, and water resource management with unparalleled precision. Farmers can use AI for precision agriculture, monitoring soil health, optimising irrigation and predicting yields. Energy efficiency is another critical area. AI can optimise the generation, distribution and consumption of energy, reducing carbon footprints while improving access. Smart grids informed by machine learning algorithms can predict demand spikes and reroute electricity to prevent outages. During disasters such as floods or wildfires, AI-enabled systems can provide early warnings, simulate response strategies and coordinate relief efforts. Satellite data combined with AI analytics can map affected areas in real time, identify vulnerable populations and facilitate targeted humanitarian interventions. These applications are not just technically sophisticated but socially vital. Integrating ethics and equity into AI development But the journey to AI-enabled SDGs is not without risks. Issues of data privacy, algorithmic bias, surveillance and digital exclusion must be confronted directly. The use of AI must be guided by principles of transparency, accountability and justice. Local contexts matter, and solutions must be co-created with communities, grounded in local knowledge and aligned with national development priorities. Moreover, AI must not deepen inequalities by creating a technological elite. Investments must be made in digital infrastructure, skills development and research capabilities, particularly in historically marginalised areas. If AI is to be a force for good, its benefits must be broadly shared, and its design must reflect the values and diversity of South African society. To avoid surveillance, bias and misuse of data, the country needs strong ethical guidelines. The Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution has made initial recommendations, but these must be translated into enforceable policies. The private sector, particularly in fintech, agri-tech, edtech and healthtech, must be encouraged to innovate responsibly. Universities and research institutions should intensify efforts to localise AI knowledge production and ensure that South African problems are being solved by South African minds. Most importantly, the state must play a catalytic role in ensuring that the regulatory frameworks, data governance standards and public investments align with the broader vision of sustainable development. The alignment between AI and the SDGs is not coincidental; it is foundational. AI is not just about machines, it is about leveraging intelligence, in all its forms, to solve humanity's greatest problems. Let us seize this opportunity not just with code and computation, but with compassion, conscience and collective purpose. Dinko Herman Boikanyo is an associate professor of business management at the University of Johannesburg. He writes in his personal capacity.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Tax season: Here is why you need to prioritise filing for returns
If taxpayers do not claim what they are entitled to, they are leaving money behind. When most people think of tax season, they often get a headache because they believe filing returns is a complicated process, and they decide not to file. Well, this is one of those things as an adult you should not pass on, because it will come back to bite you in the future. Taxpayers who decide to turn a blind eye to the tax season will be penalised, and whether they like it or not, the taxman will always have the last laugh, because they will need to pay for those penalties in the end. Ferné Nagy, executive financial advisor at ASI Financial Services, advises taxpayers to view tax season as an opportunity to take control of their financial story. Who should file for tax returns Tax season 2025 is scheduled to run until 20 October for non-provisional taxpayers and until 19 January 2026 for provisional taxpayers. If you are under the age of 65 and earned more than R95 750, you earned commission, freelanced, or side hustle income, sold assets with capital gains of more than R40 000, earned foreign income or held offshore assets worth more than R250 000, or received rental income or investment returns, then you are obligated to file for your tax return. All of these must have taken place between 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025. Nagy says tax returns enable individuals to recover costs they have already incurred while earning their income. He warns that if taxpayers do not claim what they are entitled to, they are leaving money behind. ALSO READ: Sars makes changes to eFiling for easy use Tax return in the age of AI He adds that the South African Revenue Service (Sars) has made advances in automation through AI-powered auto-assessments. However, he warns taxpayers that auto-assessments are fast but not foolproof. 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) only sees what it's been fed. It cannot interpret your full financial picture like side hustle earnings, unreimbursed business expenses, or retirement top-ups. 'And when the data's incomplete, your return is too. Technology is a powerful enabler, but without human insight, it can cost you.' The catch in turning a blind eye Nagy adds that relying blindly on auto-assessments or ignoring your tax obligations can lead to costly mistakes, such as missed refunds or penalties. 'That is why being registered on eFiling and actively checking your return is so important. It gives you full control to make sure your return is accurate, complete, and truly reflects your financial reality.' Easy process The Citizen ran a test on how quickly it would take to file a return. Because eFiling's Wizard already had most of my information, I just had to answer yes or no to the questions, confirm my details, and enter the amounts I received during the tax season. All in all, it took less than 20 minutes. Within five minutes, my statement of account, detailing how much I will receive from the taxman, was available. However, the call centre is another nightmare. I had made a mistake first, and I needed clarity. I was on hold for 45 minutes, and I was still number 674 on the line when I gave up. If you need to call the call centre, the best thing to do is to request a callback. I'm not sure how long this would take. ALSO READ: Common pitfalls to avoid this tax season Fraud during tax season He adds that as filing becomes more digital, the stakes grow higher. 'Your tax return holds everything from your ID number to your income and banking details.' However, with cybercrime on the rise, thieves are not taking a break. 'According to Interpol, cybercrime costs the economy more than R2.2 billion annually due to the risks of data breaches, identity theft and financial fraud. 'This is where Sars eFiling becomes more than just a filing tool; it becomes your first line of defence.' The platform gives you full control to: Review your assessment Submit corrections Upload documents Track refunds Dispute errors Communicate directly with Sars Digital does not equal safety Nagy says people assume digital equals safe, which is not always the case. 'Security starts with how you use the tools. Cyber awareness is no longer optional; it's part of being financially literate.' Use strong, unique passwords for eFiling. Never click on Sars links in unsolicited emails. Always log in directly. Work with trusted financial professionals who prioritise data protection. 'Even if you were auto-assessed, you are still legally responsible for confirming that it is accurate. Accepting a flawed assessment could result in overpaying, underpaying, or triggering penalties down the line.' NOW READ: Estimated assessments: Sars's new 'cash-cow-grabbing' norm?
