A new mathematical tool to uncover "who eats whom" in nature - EurekAlert! Science News Releases

image: The Project Numina Fellowship received by ISTA Professor Tamás Hausel supports scientists in accelerating their research with AI tools designed for mathematical reasoning. Artificial intelligence is reshaping mathematical research. Recent advances in AI for mathematics have drawn widespread attention from researchers and the public, prompting the renowned mathematician and Fields medalist Terence Tao to call for a “rapid rethink” of the entire research field.

I'm not going to lie; I use AI for many of my outdoor adventures. I've found it to be a great tool for planning my marathon training schedule and finding easy hikes for my toddlers. However, one thing I would never rely on it for is planning an actual mountain route, and here's why. Recently, a 16-year-old in British Columbia had to be helicopter-rescued from a vertical cliff face on Crown Mountain in North Vancouver. He used AI to help plan his route, which led him directly into a high-risk climbing section known as the “Widowmaker. "One common misconception about AI is that it understands terrain. It can't differentiate between a scenic walking path, an unmaintained gully, or a Class 4 rock scramble. Even worse, if you lose cell service, your chatbox becomes completely useless. AI can also make mistakes. For example, it went from labeling Panorama Ridge as a strenuous hike to calling it easy terrain when questioned (demonstrated in the video above). If you're heading outdoors, it's best to skip the chatbox and use dedicated mapping tools instead. Apps like Gaia and Trailforks provide real topographic maps and elevation profiles.