3Blue1Brown makes a case for entering math in the AI age
Grant Sanderson's new essay moves from student angst to the possibilities of proof, conjecture and theory machines.
Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.
There's never been a better time to go into math
The question has become personal. With "There's never been a better time to go into math," Grant Sanderson turns from solving a mathematical puzzle to considering the future of the people who solve them.
His only upload this week reached roughly 873,000 views in its first 12 hours. The chapter headings trace an expansive argument: math student angst, how mathematics works, then imagined proof, conjecture and theory machines. He also makes room for the broader question of what happens if AI becomes better at everything, before returning to the optimistic proposition in his title.
The comments give that discussion a human scale. One viewer remembers discovering a passion for mathematics through Sanderson's videos in eighth grade and is now pursuing a math Ph.D. Another is finishing a math degree and remarks on the timing. Computer science viewers ask for a version addressed to their field, while others suggest the questions extend well beyond mathematics.
This is a continuation of a subject already active on the channel. "The last IMO problem AI could not solve," posted about a month ago, remains its next most-viewed upload by current daily pace, approaching three million views overall. That video pairs a puzzle with the intuition it requires; the new essay puts the mathematician's future at the center instead. "Reinventing Entropy | Compression is Intelligence Part 1" also continues drawing viewers to the relationship between language, information and compression.
Across the channel, daily viewing is close to its usual level, a little lower, while the subscriber count grew by about 20,000 over the week. For some of those subscribers, Sanderson is no longer just helping explain the subject they chose. As their comments make clear, he helped them choose it.
Published on Trari
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What viewers say
9 years ago, in 8th grade, you sparked my passion for math.
Today, I am a Ph.D. student in math, being comforted by the same person that kickstarted it all.
This video is amazing and came at the perfect time.
Thank you@captainsnake8515See it on YouTubeWe need a comforter like this for compsci
@SuPythonySee it on YouTubeMathematicians be like: suppose for the sake of existential crisis
@judahrosen4362See it on YouTube
5 more comments
Final year of my math degree this is what happens. Incredible comedic timing can't even be mad
@blazednewt413See it on YouTubeA chunk of your viewers aren't probably mathematicians, or even aspiring mathematicians. But what you have said can be extrapolated and fit into whichever field we're in! So, thanks
@MihirSahasrabudhe-j1gSee it on YouTubeI used to watch your videos while studying for me degree. Now it feels kind of surreal to watch a video questioning maths as a subject.
@masatutechuSee it on YouTubemy favorite activity of all time: wallowing in the beauty of math; thank you Grant for being a great math communicator
@allie72pheSee it on YouTubeI already went into math mostly because of you Grant.
@angelizar123See it on YouTube
Public comments from the video's page on YouTube
The videos drawing views on 3Blue1Brown right now
- Channel
- 3Blue1Brown
- Subscribers
- 8,700,000 ▲ 20,000 this week
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 2,082,242
- Videos published this week
- 1
- Video published
- October 16, 2026
- Video views so far
- 873,417
The numbers
Here is how 3Blue1Brown's audience and uploads moved over the week.
💡 Test your knowledge
What does IMO stand for in the mathematical competition featured on 3Blue1Brown?
The IMO is the International Mathematical Olympiad, an international mathematics competition for high school students.





