Gemini AI Solves Olympiad Math Like a Gold Medalist
Google DeepMind has announced that its Gemini AI model reached a gold-level score in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The IMO is one of the toughest math competitions in the world for secondary school students. Only the top 10% of contestants usually earn a gold medal.
Gemini was tested using 100 past Olympiad questions. The AI’s results matched the scores of real gold medal-winning students. This makes Gemini the first known AI to perform at that level using step-by-step reasoning alone.
Image credit: Google DeepMind
Trained to Think Step by Step
Gemini was trained using a method called process supervision. Instead of learning just the final answer, the AI was trained to show each step of the solution. This approach helps the model reason through problems in a way that mimics how students are taught in school.
The model performed well in topics like algebra, geometry, and number theory. These subjects often require multiple steps and careful logic. Gemini was able to solve these questions by writing out its working clearly and logically.
Image credit: Google
AI Still Struggles with Creative and Unusual Problems
Gemini’s results are impressive, but it still has limits. The model performs best on structured problems, but it struggles with creative or unusual ones. These questions often require insight or out-of-the-box thinking — something humans excel at.
In public tests, GPT-4 was given a math problem on divisibility but wrongly assumed all even numbers are divisible by four. The solution sounded logical but was incorrect. This highlights a broader issue in AI models, which are often more likely to give a wrong answer than admit they do not know, especially with unfamiliar questions.
This kind of mistake shows how AI can sound logical but still miss key facts. In competitions like the Olympiad, even a small error can cost a top score. Gemini still faces this risk when solving creative or abstract questions.
Looking Ahead at AI in Learning
Image Credit: Reddit
DeepMind hopes that AI models like Gemini will one day help both students and teachers. These tools could explain hard topics, offer step-by-step guidance, and support learners who do not have access to tutors. The main goal is to make learning more accessible and easier for everyone, not just faster.
Gemini’s gold-level score in the Math Olympiad shows clear progress. But it is only one step forward. True problem-solving still needs the kind of creative thinking that only humans have, at least for now.
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