MIT News AI

Q&A: Rethinking how innovation happens

In his latest book, Professor Eugene Fitzgerald examines the forces that turn breakthroughs into value — and why innovation resists simple formulas.

arXiv AI
Jun 16

Can Artificial Intelligence Accelerate Technological Progress? Researchers' Perspectives on AI in Manufacturing and Materials Science

arXiv:2511. 14007v3 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) raises expectations of substantial increases in rates of technological progress, but such anticipations are often not connected to detailed ground-level studies of AI use in innovation processes.

By John P. Nelson, Olajide Olugbade, Philip Shapira, Justin B. Biddle
Simon Willison
Sep 9

Quoting Terence Tao

Simon Willison discusses how the current trend of mining open mathematical problems in a non-renewable way could make these problems scarce. He notes that rumors of a problem can trigger large AI-driven efforts to solve it before original researchers can fully develop their work. This shift may discourage sharing promising research, potentially reversing centuries of open science and harming the field’s future.

OpenAI Blog
Sep 8

The Work Now Within Reach

The article titled "The Work Now Within Reach" discusses how increasingly capable and affordable AI technologies can broaden the range of tasks that individuals and businesses can perform. It highlights the potential for AI to enhance productivity and enable more efficient, cost-effective growth. The piece emphasizes the expanding opportunities for leveraging AI to achieve greater work outcomes.