GPT-5.2 derives a new result in theoretical physics

Re:GPT-5.2 derives a new result in theoretical physics by castigatio on Saturday February 14, 2026 @05:05AM (#47013267)

I'm not sure where people think humans are getting these magical leaps of insight that transcend combinations of existing things. Magic? Ghost in the machine? The simplest explanation is that "leaps of insight" are simply novel combinations that demonstrate themselves to have some utility within the boundaries of a test case or objective.

Snow + stick + need to clean driveway = snow shovel. Snow shovel + hill + desire for fun = sled

At one point people were arguing that you could never get "true art" from linear programs. Now you get true art and people are arguing you can't get magical flashes of insight. The will to defend human intelligence / creativity is strong but the evidence is weak.

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Re:GPT-5.2 derives a new result in theoretical physics by hiAndrewQuinn on Saturday February 14, 2026 @05:13AM (#47013316)

Some people defend it because they are nondualists. They think the moral value of human life rounds to zero against the existence of something which can effortlessly outclass them in all domains. This is obviously confused, but they can't bring themselves to say "Very cool, and also I think humans are inherently special and deserve to continue existing even if all we do is lie around all day and watch the Hallmark channel."

Happy Valentine's day to those who celebrate btw <3

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