Sep 11, 2026 – 10.15amThe Australian professor who claimed OpenAI engaged in foul play over a major mathematical breakthrough says the artificial intelligence makers are wholly focused on beating each other and do not care about the technology’s transformative effects on society and individuals.Melbourne-born academic Tristan Buckmaster was thrust into the global spotlight this week after he revealed conversations he had with executives from OpenAI in the days before the company revealed that it had solved one of the world’s most complex mathematical questions.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Jessica GardnerUnited States correspondentJessica Gardner is The Australian Financial Review’s United States correspondent. She was previously deputy editor - news.Fetching latest articles
‘Not selling my soul’: Why this Aussie maths professor took on OpenAI
After a public firestorm with the technology giant over a $1.4 million problem, Tristan Buckmaster says artificial intelligence has taken over his profession.
TL;DRAI
Mathematician Tristan Buckmaster accused OpenAI of foul play in handling a major mathematical breakthrough, citing undisclosed pre-announcement executive discussions. The conflict signals AI leaders prioritize market edge over broader impact, affecting enterprise governance and partnership decisions.
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