Jin Shanmu, a neurosurgeon and postdoctoral researcher at the Peking Union Medical College, has achieved a significant breakthrough in mathematics. While conducting research related to brain ultrasound imaging, Jin—a self-taught mathematics enthusiast—encountered a complex problem that had remained unsolved for two decades. By leveraging OpenAI’s latest artificial intelligence model, Jin was able to identify a solution to the puzzle, which had previously stumped experts globally since 2004.

The development highlights the growing intersection between medical research and advanced computational tools. While Jin’s primary professional focus is neurosurgery, his application of AI to a long-standing mathematical challenge demonstrates the potential for large language models to assist in specialized scientific fields outside of their primary training data. The specific nature of the problem, which dates back to 2004, was not detailed in depth, but the achievement has been noted for its rarity given Jin’s background as a medical practitioner rather than a career mathematician.