Forty-two mathematical fellows have signed an open letter to the president of the Royal Society, urging the British Academy of Sciences to alert the government and the media about existential risks from advanced artificial intelligence. The signatories include Fields Medal winners Martin Hairer, Peter Scholze, and Wendelin Werner. None of the signatories are affiliated with AI companies.
The letter follows a striking sequence of results. Within three months, leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic have solved open research problems. One of the solved problems is one of the seven Millennium Problems, and a second Millennium Problem is likely to be solved soon.
What the letter says about mathematical ability
The letter states that these models now perform "at the level of the top human mathematicians in many parts of the subject," and that there is a "significant chance of them developing superhuman abilities within a similarly short timeframe."
The impact on mathematics is not what prompted the letter. The group warns that "we must assume that the rate of change of their capabilities will be similar" in areas like cybersecurity, autonomous weapon control, development of biological and chemical agents, and targeted misinformation.
Risk estimates and the timing problem
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The letter argues that estimates from AI labs putting existential risk above ten percent "must not be dismissed as hype." It also states: "By the time the situation becomes obvious to the wider public it may be too late to act."
The article, written by Matthias Bastian for THE DECODER and published on Sep 18, 2026, suggests the situation might be a real-life "Don't Look Up" scenario. The reference points to a cultural comparison for ignoring existential threats.
Why the signatories matter
The letter is addressed to the president of the Royal Society, referred to as the British Academy of Sciences. The signatories are described as mathematical fellows. The article highlights that the signatories are not affiliated with AI companies, adding credibility to their warnings.
The article implies urgency by noting that AI capabilities are advancing rapidly and may become superhuman soon. The open letter is the latest signal that a segment of the mathematical community sees the pace of change as a reason for public and governmental attention, not just academic interest.