AI will soon solve UG science, maths problems: Manjul Bhargava at IISc convocation in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Noted mathematician and Fields Medal recipient Manjul Bhargava Friday said within the next year or two, artificial intelligence (AI) systems will likely be capable of accurately solving undergraduate-level science problems.Speaking at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) convocation in Bengaluru, Bhargava acknowledged the current limitations of AI in mathematics and science, pointing out how large language models often produce incorrect yet confidently worded answers. "However, AI is getting better every day," Bhargava said. Having tested some of the latest versions of language models not yet released to public, he said he was confident that future AI tools would be able to accurately handle complex undergraduate-level problems, including trigonometry.As these technologies evolve, Bhargava said they pose important questions for education systems. "What will happen to teaching at institutions like IISc when that happens [AI solving problems]? As AI does get better across subjects, we will have to constantly reassess, for example, what we should be teaching children in schools," he said.Bhargava, who's also a tabla player, emphasised the need for creativity and to think outside the box. 84 receive medalsIISc awarded degrees to 1,487 PhD and Masters students and 106 undergraduates at its convocation ceremony, where 84 students from the 2023-24 and 2024-25 batches were recognised with medals for academic excellence.Most medallists are already engaged in research or industry roles. Among them was Shashi Kant Giri, a 2024-25 MTech graduate, who won the HR Babu Seetharam Medal. "I've joined an energy company working to reduce carbon footprint, but my broader goal is to contribute to India's deep-tech capabilities," he said.JEE Main 2020 topper Gurkirat Singh, an integrated physics programme student, is headed to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a PhD in condensed matter theory. "I've wanted to be a physicist since my teens," he said.-------Box:A Medal Not Collected, A Life RememberedA moment of silence gripped the convocation hall Friday when the name of Nikhil Somwanshi was called among gold medallists. But, no one came forward to receive his medal. "Unfortunately, he passed away," the announcer said, pausing briefly as the audience sat in silence.Nikhil, a graduate of the master of management programme (Class of 2024), was posthumously awarded the Prof BG Raghavendra Memorial Medal. He was the sole medal recipient from his course.The 25-year-old had joined the AI division of a leading mobility company as a machine learning engineer. On May 8, 2025, his body was found in Agara Lake, and the police registered a case of unnatural death. His employer confirmed he was on leave at the time.At IISc's convocation, however, the focus was on remembrance — a silent tribute to a promising life cut short, and a medal that no one stepped up to collect.