# OpenAI and Anthropic claim AI models refuted the Exponential Time Hypothesis

> Original title: Frontier AI labs say their models refuted the Exponential Time Hypothesis. What does that mean?

- Source: TechCrunch · AI
- Published: 2026-10-27T17:08:08.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/wvfg3sfea4p7g4c1rvn42vh2d
- Original: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/27/frontier-ai-labs-say-their-models-refuted-the-exponential-time-hypothesis-what-does-that-mean/

## Summary

OpenAI released solutions to three long-standing math problems, including a claimed refutation of the Exponential Time Hypothesis, and Anthropic later released its own refutation. MIT professor Ryan Williams, who is organizing the computer science community's response, says the findings could undermine assumptions about hard NP problems and may affect cryptographic systems that rely on certain key sizes. Those claims remain under scientific review.

## Why it matters

The article explains what the Exponential Time Hypothesis and P vs NP mean, helping readers judge why a claimed refutation would matter beyond the headline.