The response gets more reasonable the smaller the model in question. A 1B parameter model passing grade-school math tests would be much more alarming (exciting?) than a GPT-4 sized model doing the same.

GPT-4 probably has some version of the answer memorized. There’s no real explanation for a 1B parameter model solving math problems other than general cognition.

No, what made this person fearful was a substantial jump in math ability. (Very) obviously they are not afraid of producing a machine that can multiply numbers. They’re afraid of what that capability (and especially the jump in capability) means for other behaviors.

...do they not know the history of their field? There's been programs able to grade school maths since the 60's.

How HN continues to not expand current progress into any decently significant future timeline is beyond me.

It’s grade school math NOW. But what are the potentials from here?

The potential to have a generation of dumb kids.

Year 2100:

Kids will stop to learn maths and logic, because they understand it has become useless in practice to learn such skills, as they can ask a computer to solve their problem.

A stupid generation, but one that can be very easily manipulated and exploited by those who have power.

Agree. Thank god all calculators and engineers who made them were burned down fifty years ago. Can’t imagine what would have happened instead.

Calculators don’t solve the problem for you. Hence the fact that we have calculator based exams and people still completely fuck them up.

If your apple watch could just scan your exam paper and instantly tell you what to write then why would you ever learn anything?

for fun

Everyone was only capable of grade school math at some point. The ability to learn means the ability growth does not stop.

Americans have always had a math phobia. How is this news?