Anthropic's Claude AI successfully computed a nine-loop amplitude in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory, addressing a major challenge in theoretical physics posed by Matt von Hippel. The calculation used existing methods rather than novel approaches, raising questions about whether AI will transform theoretical physics research or merely automate existing techniques.
Physicist Matt von Hippel challenged AI companies to solve a hard problem in theoretical physics: computing scattering amplitudes in N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory to nine loops using academic computing resources. Claude reportedly solved this long-standing problem in amplitudeology, demonstrating that computational limits previously thought insurmountable could be overcome with AI-assisted research.