Justin Sun Prize recognizes research on Erdős problems and AI-verified proofs

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Justin Sun Prize & AI proofs

Highlights

The Justin Sun Prize awarded Wouter van Doorn, Quanyu Tang, and Yanyang Li for solving six Erdős problems, including #650 and #1044, and for creating Lean-verifiable proofs.
The researchers leveraged ChatGPT and Aristotle AI to collaboratively resolve Erdős Problem #650, demonstrating practical AI-human integration in mathematical proof development and formalization.
Prize payments will be made in USDT on TRON (TRC-20) or USDC on Ethereum (ERC-20), reflecting ongoing blockchain integration into scientific recognition.

Recipients and award scope

As reported by The Block, citing the Office of Justin Sun, the latest round of the Justin Sun Prize honors independent researcher Wouter van Doorn, mathematics Ph.D. student Quanyu Tang and Southeast University researcher Yanyang Li for contributions across six Erdős problems.

Van Doorn, who continues to publish after leaving academia following his master's degree, and Tang, whose work spans number theory, combinatorics and AI-assisted mathematical discovery, worked with Li to solve Erdős Problem #650. Their result determines how many integers can always be matched to distinct multiples within a specified interval.

Van Doorn also produced Lean-verifiable proofs for Erdős Problems #369, #457 and #469, while Tang separately resolved #1044 and contributed with Li to a broader team's solution of #1196. The program says these are its first confirmed awards and that the recognition covers both mathematical discovery and the effort required to make proofs independently checkable.

AI collaboration and blockchain links

The work on Problem #650 is presented as an example of human and AI collaboration in mathematical research. ChatGPT helped shape the proof strategy, while Aristotle, an AI system for mathematical reasoning, repaired a gap during Lean formalization before the researchers simplified the argument and prepared the final proofs and exposition.

Tang says the process showed how public feedback can sharpen a research question and how AI-assisted discovery can combine mathematical judgment, collaboration and rigorous verification. The Erdős problem catalog referenced by the prize is maintained by Thomas Bloom of the University of Manchester and contains more than 1,200 problems.

The prize is described as an academic initiative established by Justin Sun to support mathematics, formal verification and AI-assisted scientific discovery. Prize payments are set to be made in either USDT on TRON, using the TRC-20 standard, or USDC on Ethereum, using ERC-20, depending on each recipient's choice.

In our earlier article on AI adoption among Malaysian SMEs, we noted that usage is rising, but most companies still apply AI mainly as a basic productivity tool rather than using it to transform operations. The piece highlighted that the discussion is shifting from trying new tools to prioritizing AI deployments that deliver measurable business impact, with only a small share reaching advanced, truly transformative adoption.

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