OpenAI’s ‘embarrassing’ math

Plus: Scale AI alum raises $9M for AI serving critical industries in MENA

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In this Newsletter Today:

  • OpenAI’s ‘embarrassing’ math

  • Scale AI alum raises $9M for AI serving critical industries in MENA

  • The man betting everything on AI and Bill Belichick

  • AI Tutorial

  • 5 Best AI Tools

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OpenAI’s ‘embarrassing’ math

OpenAI faced criticism after its VP deleted a tweet claiming that GPT-5 solved 10 unsolved Erdős problems and “made progress on 11 more.” However, mathematician Thomas Bloom argues this is misleading. He noted that while the problems were marked as open by him, he did not confirm any new solutions. In short, GPT-5 didn’t solve them — it found references to already solved work.

Key Points:

  • The claim started from a tweet by OpenAI VP Kevin Weil, who said GPT-5 had solved well-known unsolved math problems.

  • Experts like Yann LeCun (Meta) and Demis Hassabis (DeepMind) openly called the claim “embarrassing.”

  • Thomas Bloom said the problems were “open.” This meant he didn’t know of any solutions, not that there were none. GPT-5 simply found those solutions or references.

  • An OpenAI researcher later said the model identified solutions in the literature rather than figuring them out itself.

Why It Matters:

  • It shows that claims about AI breakthroughs can be exaggerated or misinterpreted. Credibility is important.

  • Models like GPT-5 can aid in literature searches and discovery. However, saying they “solve” long-standing mathematical problems sets a different and higher standard.

  • Overselling capabilities can damage trust in AI research and in the companies behind it.

Scale AI alum raises $9M for AI serving critical industries in MENA

1001 AI is a startup based in Dubai and London. It was co-founded by Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, a former director at Scale AI. The company has raised $9 million in a seed round, led by General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and CIV Global. The company plans to roll out AI infrastructure in heavy industries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This will begin with aviation, logistics, airports, ports, construction, and oil & gas.

Key Points:

  • 1001 AI aims to tackle over $10 billion in inefficiencies in Gulf-region industries. This includes sectors like airports, construction sites, and oil and gas in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

  • The startup aims to launch its first product by the year's end. After that, it plans to sell its AI decision-making platform to large infrastructure operators.

  • The AI platform will pull data from clients' systems. Then, it will give real-time operational commands. For example, it can reroute vehicles or crews at a busy airport. This process is managed by AI orchestration, not just human effort.

  • Founders spent years in the U.S. and at Scale AI building data-annotation networks. Now, they’re using that experience to create infrastructure in the MENA region.

Why It Matters:

  • Infrastructure-heavy industries in the MENA region struggle with big operational inefficiencies. AI solutions designed for these sectors could bring significant impact and value.

  • AI startups are shifting their focus. They are now focusing on real-world industrial operations and “physical world” workflows, not just software or consumer apps.

  • Major U.S. investors show that global confidence in AI opportunities is growing beyond typical U.S. and Europe markets.

  • For Gulf countries, this highlights how tech and AI are key to their economic and industrial changes.

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The man betting everything on AI and Bill Belichick

Lee Roberts, Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), is taking bold steps. He’s focusing on artificial intelligence and hiring legendary football coach Bill Belichick. He sees the university’s future not only in research and teaching. He envisions it as a hub for AI and transformation.

Key Points:

  • Roberts has a finance background as a private investment and state budget director. Now, he treats UNC like a tech startup, focusing strongly on AI.

  • UNC is merging two schools: Data Science & Society and Information & Library Science. They will create a new AI-focused entity.

  • The university is paying Bill Belichick $10 million a year under a five-year deal made earlier this year. This shows how sports, branding, and AI strategy are linked.

  • Some faculty and students are doubtful. Over 900 people signed a petition. They say Roberts was appointed without a complete search. There’s also tension between traditional academic values and his quick agenda.

  • Roberts says the chance to lead in AI is brief. Institutions need to act fast and create teamwork models across different fields.

Why It Matters:

  • It’s a clear example of how universities are rushing to define their role in the AI era. They focus on more than just teaching or research; they aim for transformation and infrastructure.

  • Elite sports, like Belichick's teams, and high-tech AI strategies show how universities blend brand, funding, and innovation.

  • The risk is high: culture wars, funding cuts, faculty resistance, and external expectations all create headwinds. If the strategy fails, it could back-fire.

  • For students, faculty, and investors, the message is clear: the next decade in higher education might feel more like a “Silicon Valley startup” than a “traditional campus.”

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