The Mathematical Foundations of AI
Sponsored by Springer Nature
Recorded on 02/04/2026
Posted in The Authority File
Episode 458
This month we’re joined by Elizabeth Loew, Executive Editor, and Christopher Tominich, Senior Editor, both in the Mathematics book group at Springer Nature, to learn how mathematics and artificial intelligence intertwine. While computer science plays a key role in building AI technology, mathematics operates as the “engine under the hood” of AI, powering analyzation, probability, statistical tasks, optimization, and much more. As Elizabeth and Chris explain, mathematics provides essential frameworks for large language models and machine learning algorithms, particularly when applied to massive datasets. In this series, we’ll explore mathematicians’ research in other subject areas to improve AI functions, preparing today’s math students for an AI landscape, and if artificial intelligence really is the new calculator.
In the first episode of this four-part series, Elizabeth and Chris discuss how mathematics makes modern AI tools possible. Chris dives into the AI applications of mathematical theories and frameworks and picks out a few fundamental math skills that contribute to AI. In addition, Elizabeth highlights emerging areas of study in math that she’s seen in AI-related manuscripts and scholarship.
About the guests:
Elizabeth Loew
Executive Editor, Mathematics
Springer Nature
Elizabeth Loew is an Executive Editor in the (Books) Mathematics group at Springer Nature. She is officially based in New York and manages team members in New York, Philadelphia, and São Paolo, Brazil.
Elizabeth began her tenure as a publishing editor in December 2007. She is the gatekeeper of well-known textbook series at the graduate and undergraduate levels and enjoys publishing all types of books spanning a vast array of topics in math and those that strongly intersect with math. Elizabeth especially enjoys inspiring and brainstorming with colleagues as well as creating cooperations with “societies“ and institutes.
Prior to becoming a publisher, she owned a small business, TeXniques, Inc., which provided full service production work of mathematics books for Springer and Birkhäuser imprints. She has a degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
Christopher Tominich
Senior Editor, Mathematics
Springer Nature
Christopher Tominich is Senior Editor in the Mathematics book group at Springer Nature, where he works on the Birkhäuser imprint. He is responsible for a variety of book series covering aspects of both pure and applied mathematics. Prior to joining Springer Nature in 2014, he held editorial positions at Taylor & Francis and Pearson. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics from New York University.
Enjoy the conversation? Listen to the rest of the series:
- Where Mathematical Research Meets AI
- Teaching, Learning, and Mathematical Literacy in the AI Era
- Libraries, Publishing, and the Future of Mathematics in AI
Check out our previous series with Springer Nature:
– Innovative STEM Publishing Strategies in an Evolving AI Landscape
– Why Humanities and Social Sciences Matter for Today’s AI Landscape
– Springer Nature’s Adoption and Scale of the SDGs
– Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals
– Introducing Nature Mental Health
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