Here is a 3-paragraph summary of the blog post for mathopen.com:
Mathematician Rachel Webb reflects on how artificial intelligence has shaped her mathematical workflow, drawing a parallel to an earlier transformation she experienced during her PhD. That first upheaval came through collaboration, when working closely with a group of graduate students and faculty fundamentally changed how she approached mathematical thinking and problem-solving. This personal history sets the stage for a thoughtful comparison with the more recent shift brought on by AI tools.
Webb explores the specific ways AI has genuinely helped her work, likely in areas like formatting, drafting, and handling routine technical tasks, while being honest about where AI falls short. The distinction she draws is important: AI can assist with the surrounding scaffolding of mathematical work, but it does not replace the deep conceptual reasoning and creativity that define real mathematical progress.
Ultimately, Webb's perspective is nuanced and grounded in lived experience. Rather than framing AI as either a revolutionary breakthrough or a useless distraction for mathematicians, she treats it as one tool among many, useful in the right context but limited in others. Her reflections offer a relatable and thoughtful take for anyone in the mathematical community curious about how these technologies are actually changing day-to-day research life.