PSI researcher solves Aaronson-Ambainis conjecture using AI, defers MIT masters plans
· Technology · TechCrunch
David Turturean, a recent MIT graduate and Physical Superintelligence startup lab staff member, used early access to Anthropic's Fable 5.2 model to solve the Aaronson-Ambainis conjecture, an eighteen-year-old problem in quantum computing. Turturean, who deferred his MIT masters plans to join PSI, told TechCrunch that in a few months, there would be little reason to publish papers. The conjecture concerns whether quantum computers can solve problems faster than classical ones; Scott Aaronson, one of the problem's originators, states he does not fully understand the proof but trusts it because it was autoformalized in Lean. The solution constitutes a negative result, indicating quantum computers can no longer pursue that specific avenue for high-speed problem-solving. PSI CEO Matt Pines told TechCrunch the breakthrough reflects broader upheaval in scientific discovery driven by AI problem-solving.
Why it matters
The solution closes one avenue for quantum computers to solve difficult problems at high speed, shifting the landscape of quantum query complexity and validating AI-driven research methodologies. It specifically impacts the field of quantum computing research, where the conjecture was considered centrally important, and signals a pivot toward AI-accelerated scientific breakthroughs.
Read the original report — TechCrunch
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