The Role of Exposition in the Future of Mathematics - Grant Sanderson

On September 30, 2026, Grant Sanderson of 3Blue1Brown visited the Institute for Advanced Study campus and delivered a talk about what math means to him. He discussed the appeal that mathematics holds at an emotional level and showcased the kind of work that he likes to think and talk about. Sanderson walked through a proof that every closed loop contains an inscribed rectangle, using Möbius strips and Klein bottles. He used this example to argue that the joy and value of mathematics lies in the process of understanding and the transferable ideas it generates. He then engaged the audience of IAS scholars in discussion about how the field of mathematics might judge work once AI makes proofs "cheap," sparking dialogue around truth, taste, and the risks of subjective standards. Simonyi Hall, Institute for Advanced Study, 1 Einstein Drive, Princeton, NJ September 30, 2026