The researchers wanted to know whether it would solve Plato’s problem using knowledge it already ‘held’, or by adaptively developing its own solutions. The researchers expected it to handle their Ancient Greek maths challenge by regurgitating its pre-existing ‘knowledge’ of Socrates’ famous solution. Asked to double the square, ChatGPT opted for an algebraic approach that would have been unknown in Plato’s time. Despite this, ChatGPT demonstrated full knowledge of Plato’s work when asked about it. “Instead, it seemed to take its own approach.”The researchers also posed a variant of Plato’s problem, asking ChatGPT to double the area of a rectangle while retaining its proportions.