This year, artificial intelligence has become an integral part of everyday business life. Tools that write text, analyse data, and support decision-making are now widely used in offices and classrooms. As these tools became more common, a question arose frequently: if AI can do so much, why do we still need to learn mathematics?
The answer became clearer as these tools were used more widely. AI systems do not think or understand. They follow rules built using mathematics. At their core, these systems are designed to optimise something specific. In many cases, they are optimised to produce the most likely answer, not the most accurate one. This distinction is important, and understanding it requires mathematical thinking.
One clear example from this year was the repeated reporting of AI tools giving wrong but confident answers. In education and research settings, some AI-generated responses included incorrect facts or even made-up references. These errors were not random. They occurred because the system was trained to predict patterns in language, not to verify truth. To recognise this limitation, one must ask what the model is trying to optimise, what data it learned from, and where that data may be incomplete. These are mathematical questions about assumptions, limits, and objectives.
For managers and decision-makers, mathematics is not about solving complex equations. It is about reasoning clearly. Mathematical thinking helps people break problems into parts, compare options, and understand trade-offs. When an AI system suggests a decision, mathematics helps a user judge whether the result makes sense in the real world. This year also showed that AI works well only when humans frame the right questions. A poorly framed problem leads to poor results, even with advanced technology. Mathematics trains students to define problems carefully. It forces clarity about goals, constraints, and possible outcomes.
For students, learning mathematics is not about memorising formulas. It is about learning how to think step by step and question results logically. In a world filled with automated tools, this skill becomes even more important. Mathematics allows students to use AI as a support tool rather than accept its output without thought.
As AI continues to develop, the role of mathematics remains essential. It helps people understand what technology can do, what it cannot do, and how to use it responsibly. This year reminded us that even in the age of AI, clear thinking still begins with mathematics.