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ScienceQuiet 12d · day 13

2018 essay 'I Believe P=NP' resurfaces, draws Greg Brockman's skepticism

Theoretical computer scientist Emanuele Viola's old blog post on P vs NP recirculates on Hacker News and X, prompting a terse rebuttal from OpenAI's Greg Brockman.

newest coverage 12d agosummary written 12d ago5 pieces4 likes & upvotes Hacker NewsXNewswires

What to know

  • A 2018 essay by theorist Emanuele Viola, stating his personal belief that P=NP despite no formal proof, resurfaced on Hacker News and X in October 2026.
  • Viola's argument rests on the historical pattern that efficient algorithms (upper bounds) keep surprising researchers, while few lower bounds can be proven at all.
  • OpenAI president Greg Brockman publicly voiced skepticism, underscoring that the P vs NP question remains unresolved and contested among researchers and technologists.

Emanuele Viola Theoretical computer scientist, essay authorGreg BrockmanGreg Brockman OpenAI president, @gdb on X

2018 essay 'I Believe P=NP' resurfaces, draws Greg Brockman's skepticism
x.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in 3h at Oct 26, 5 PM; 5 pieces over 13 days (1 article · 4 posts) Oct 26, 5 PM — 4 pieces · 1 article · 3 posts — X 2, Newswires 1, Hacker News 1Oct 26, 8 PM — quietOct 26, 11 PM — quietOct 27, 2 AM — quietOct 27, 5 AM — quietOct 27, 8 AM — quietOct 27, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Oct 27, 2 PM — quietOct 27, 5 PM — quietOct 27, 8 PM — quietOct 27, 11 PM — quietOct 28, 2 AM — quietOct 28, 5 AM — quietOct 28, 8 AM — quietOct 28, 11 AM — quietOct 28, 2 PM — quietOct 28, 5 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 28, 11 PM — quietOct 29, 2 AM — quietOct 29, 5 AM — quietOct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 11 AM — quietOct 29, 2 PM — quietOct 29, 5 PM — quietOct 29, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 11 PM — quietOct 30, 2 AM — quietOct 30, 5 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — quietOct 30, 11 AM — quietOct 30, 2 PM — quietOct 30, 5 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 11 PM — quietOct 31, 2 AM — quietOct 31, 5 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 11 AM — quietOct 31, 2 PM — quietOct 31, 5 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 4 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 10 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 4 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 1 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quiet 1–2
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  1. 2

    Essay resurfaces on Hacker News

    The 2018 post is resubmitted to Hacker News under the title "I Believe P=NP," prompting renewed circulation though drawing minimal comment activity.

    “After worrying about P vs. NP for half my life, and having carefully reviewed the available "evidence" I have decided I believe that P = NP.”
    — Emanuele Viola, Theoretical computer scientist · source
    1. 1 outlet I believe P=NP

      first by Thoughts, 12d ago

  2. 1

    Brockman pushes back on X

    OpenAI president Greg Brockman posts a short skeptical reply on X in apparent response to the essay's circulation, reasserting the conventional view that P likely does not equal NP.

    “p still probably doesn't equal np…”
    — @gdb

    • Uhhh. So...there's a real chance P=NP Which would be awesome for computation, and also potentially break cryptography.

      @jpschroederX12d agoview on X ↗
    1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch all of them →
  3. background

    Viola publishes essay arguing he believes P=NP — Theoretical computer scientist Emanuele Viola writes that despite lacking proof, he personally believes P=NP, citing a history of surprising efficient algorithms (upper bounds) against few proven lower bounds.

What people are saying 0 voices from 0 sites · best of 2 · verbatim