The new research laboratory, based at Imperial College London, will investigate the transformative potential of AI in mathematical discovery and education. Led by Professor Kevin Buzzard from the Department of Mathematics, the lab aims to advance cutting-edge mathematical research and develop novel AI-assisted methods for understanding and communicating complex mathematical concepts.
Research at the Langlands Lab will concentrate on the Langlands program, a significant area of modern mathematics focused on uncovering connections between diverse fields, particularly number theory and analysis. The lab intends to generate new mathematical results, verified using the Lean software tool for logical correctness, and publish accessible research papers for the wider mathematical community. It will also develop free, interactive tools to aid mathematicians in comprehending intricate mathematical ideas and proofs.
Professor Kevin Buzzard, Professor of Pure Mathematics, stated: “AI is changing what it means to do mathematical research, and we need to rethink how we train the next generation of mathematicians. It's still critical that we educate humans to become experts, but we also need to think again about what we expect from a PhD and how we assess the work students do. The Langlands Lab gives us the flexibility to explore new ways of learning, teaching, exploring and understanding mathematics, keeping human education at the core but experimenting with the new tools available to mathematicians.”
The grant will fund five PhD students and three postdoctoral researchers over four years, alongside academic leadership and operational management. The lab is set to commence operations in 2027, with the first cohort of PhD students enrolling that year. The funding also includes significant AI computing resources, support for visiting researchers, and the organisation of workshops to foster idea exchange within the mathematical community.
Professor Axel Gandy, Head of the Department of Mathematics at Imperial, commented: “We are extremely grateful for this generous grant. Advances in AI are opening up exciting new possibilities for mathematical research, which may fundamentally change how mathematics is discovered and developed. The Langlands Lab will explore the role AI can play in mathematical discovery particularly focussing on how we train PhD students in this new era. We hope that the lab will develop useful models for the wider mathematical community.”
