Who is smarter, humans or machines? Mathematics professor Christian Hesse introduces us to the fascinating world of numbers. Can artificial intelligence calculate humor? And who is better at creatively solving mathematical problems, humans or machines? In his new book, mathematics professor and number enthusiast Christian Hesse demonstrates how profoundly mathematics shapes our world. From ancient Babylon to today, nothing works without algorithms, and the future of artificial intelligence will also be determined by mathematics. Hesse entertainingly and accessibly illustrates how the equations that govern our daily lives function through surprising mathematical phenomena. It’s a book for wonder, laughter, and puzzle-solving that will captivate even those who shy away from math.

Did you know, for example, that ants share the shortest path to food through pheromone trails that can be expressed in algorithms? These small creatures are so intertwined with mathematics that the equations behind their behavior can even solve logic puzzles. Whether it's puzzles from ancient Babylon, determining the value of pi, or machine learning—our world does not function without mathematics.

Hesse takes readers into the infinite realms of variables, vectors, and matrices, invites them to ponder, and shows where human intelligence ultimately outsmarts machines. A book for wonder, laughter, and collaborative puzzling.