Tim Austin - declarations on AI tool use

(Version of September 22nd, 2026)

I do not use AI tools.

Within a collaboration, I consider it an ethical breach to share anything about the work with an AI tool before obtaining the explicit consent of all co-authors.  In my case I would not give this consent absent exceptional circumstances.

With my postdocs and PhD students, their AI use is a subject for careful ongoing discussion.  Outside of direct collaboration, I do not try to impose explicit limits on it.  However, in meetings and written work I expect students to demonstrate the same mastery of detail irrespective of how much they use AI for mathematics.  I will not accept a trade-off between mastery and volume of work generated, nor that any part of any mathematical proof should be entrusted unthinkingly to a machine, no matter how routine or tedious it seems.

The capabilities and availability of AI tools for mathematics are changing quickly.  The principles above do not address all possible issues, and they may need frequent revision.  If you are considering applying to do a PhD with me, feel free to contact me by email with further questions.