The Download: OpenAI’s math breakthrough and a US battery record

This edition of The Download covers significant developments in artificial intelligence and energy storage. OpenAI claims its AI agents have solved a major 90-year-old mathematics problem, though the achievement is clouded by controversy regarding credit for previous research. The breakthrough highlights the growing reliance on massive computational resources for mathematical progress. Meanwhile, the US energy sector reached a new milestone in the second quarter of 2026, installing 20.2 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity to support grid stability. Additionally, the newsletter features entrepreneur Danijar Hafner’s work on physical-world AI agents and explores the emerging marketplace for battlefield drone data in Ukraine. These stories underscore the rapid evolution of AI across scientific research, physical robotics, and military applications, while tracking the infrastructure shifts necessary to support a renewable energy future.