Richardson remembers that whenever Ceccanti would emerge from the basement for some air, he would start having “philosophical” talks about “how his work with the AI was telling him he was breaking math and basically reinventing physics”. As she’d listen to him, Richardson would think about the fact that Ceccanti did not have any college or university experience. He had never even taken calculus.

Tangent, but I think this is another facet of why education is important: so people know what they don’t know. I think it’s harder to think you’re reinventing physics when you’ve taken some classes and seen all the work people have already done.

On the other hand, delusions can just be whatever so education isn’t a panacea.