AI’s formalisation crisis: How algorithmic authority reshapes mathematical truth and epistemological power
Original framing: “Mathematicians and AI in behind-the-scenes battle over what’s true” — New Scientist
Mathematicians in the Global South, such as those at the *African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)*, often lack access to formalisation tools due to **digital colonialism**—where Western universities and tech firms hoard resources. Women mathematicians, who comprise only **~30% of the field**, face additional barriers, as seen in the underrepresentation of female contributors to proof-assistant projects like Coq. **Disabled mathematicians** also critique the **visual and symbolic biases** in formalisation (e.g., reliance on LaTeX’s inaccessible notation). These voices demand **inclusive design** in formalisation systems, such as tactile proof interfaces or oral-verification protocols, which the current debate ignores.
The 'battle' over AI formalisation is not between humans and machines but between **competing visions of knowledge sovereignty**: one centered on **algorithmic authority** (where truth is a verifiable commodity), the other on **collaborative, context-aware epistemologies** (where truth is co-created and culturally embedded).
The current framing obscures how this debate replicates historical patterns—from the **Bourbaki group’s gatekeeping** to the **colonial erasure of non-Western math**—while accelerating new forms of epistemic extraction, where corporations patent formalisation infrastructure and marginalise those without access. The solution lies in **reclaiming formalisation as a public good**, not a proprietary tool, by integrating Indigenous practices, decentralised governance, and artistic-spiritual critiques into its design. The trickster here is **capital**, which has framed this as a 'truth crisis' to justify its control over verification—yet the real crisis is the **loss of democratic agency** in defining what counts as knowledge. Restoring balance requires treating formalisation not as a neutral technology but as a **cultural artifact** whose power structures must be exposed and redistributed.