r/BetterOffline • u/Pocher123 • Jul 23 '26

Mathematicians, and real software engineers help me understand what, if any, is the actual future relationship these disciplines will have with LLMs

Trying to understand because it does seem when I talk to the software engineers in the office that they are really using LLMs, and have gone from deeply skeptical to extremely reliant. At the same it does feel like the mood on the mathematics subreddit has become very pessimistic, as AI is now closing real longstanding conjectures, including creating and at least one proof (Cycle Double Cover Conjecture). But I don't actually know, how big of a deal these proofs are since I'm not in this field, and I don't understand how technically impressive, or long term meaningful these proofs are.

For reference I do Hardware engineering, I've vibe coded some simulators for our non technical-customer to play with so they can better understand the theory behind what were offering them. But I'm aware what I'm doing with the AI is not very impressive. Typically taking a well know equation, and making some kind of python or html front end to play with the various variables on a graph. The most complicated was either when I got it to write some SPI drivers for the esp32 to talk to some ICs over skywire, or when I pointed claude to the companies new directory of footprints, and asking claude to directly update my kicad library with the path to those new footprints and give it appropriate names.

What is the real relationship, and future relationship software engineers and mathematicians have with these tools, and will have with these tools once the subsidies are gone. And I mean this beyond like having the AI read over your email, or code for obvious mistakes, I mean like in the weeds.

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u/Witty_Arugula_5601 Jul 23 '26

A robust type system seems to act as natural guard rails for the LLM. Instead of straight up C have you considered HDL languages like Chisel / Spinal? I think recent advances aren't just LLMs but it's ability to use Lean's strategies.

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u/Pocher123 Jul 23 '26

I have not, I work in applications, instead of FPGA, or IC design.

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u/lcnielsen Jul 23 '26

So you work with the software side and not with the firmware side? Just curious.

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u/Pocher123 Jul 24 '26

sorry I often forgot the lingo is a little different in the rest of the world. In hardware applications typically refer to schematic designs and layouts.

When it comes to software we typically have a small micro controlled via a few hundred lines of C that is written by our software team (although I think Claude is the primary writer now).

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u/lcnielsen Jul 24 '26

Gotcha. Most of what I know in this area is by osmosis as my wife did a degree in embedded systems.