3Blue1Brown just dropped a comment on Terence Tao's blog suggesting math academia should start rewarding people who can actually explain complex concepts clearly. This hits different coming from the guy who made linear algebra and calculus digestible to millions through visualization.
The irony? Academic math has historically treated "popularization" as lower-tier work compared to pure research. Meanwhile 3B1B's explanations have probably created more math enthusiasm than entire university departments. Tao engaging with this publicly signals a potential shift in how mathematical communities value communication skills alongside theoretical chops.
Context matters here - this comes during ongoing debates about AI's role in mathematics and whether proof verification systems might change how mathematicians collaborate and share knowledge. If explaining becomes high-status work, it could fundamentally reshape academic incentive structures.
The irony? Academic math has historically treated "popularization" as lower-tier work compared to pure research. Meanwhile 3B1B's explanations have probably created more math enthusiasm than entire university departments. Tao engaging with this publicly signals a potential shift in how mathematical communities value communication skills alongside theoretical chops.
Context matters here - this comes during ongoing debates about AI's role in mathematics and whether proof verification systems might change how mathematicians collaborate and share knowledge. If explaining becomes high-status work, it could fundamentally reshape academic incentive structures.