SOLAR Lab Seminar: David Woodruff, Gemini-Based Automated Feedback for Theoretical CS Papers

Content

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David Woodruff

Speaker

David Woodruff (CMU)

Description

Focusing on Gemini-based automated feedback for theoretical CS papers, this session will cover the application of AI to the peer review process. This directly relates to the seminar series by showing how AI is being integrated into the later stages of the research lifecycle, specifically, augmenting and automating the critical tasks of writing and reviewing papers to support reproducibility and rigor.

Abstract

The pursuit of truth in theoretical computer science and mathematics relies on the highest standards of proof, rigor, and clarity. While peer review is the crucial final check, the process of drafting and refining complex theoretical work often takes months, with simple errors, inconsistent variables, or subtle logical gaps frequently slowing down the entire research pipeline. But could a highly specialized AI tool act as a fast, rigorous collaborator, helping authors pre-vet their work before it ever reaches human reviewers?

To test this potential, we created an experimental program for the Annual ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC 2026) — one of the most prestigious venues in theoretical computer science. This program offered authors automated, pre-submission feedback generated by a specialized Gemini AI tool. Our objective was to provide constructive suggestions and identify potential technical issues within 24 hours of submission, helping authors polish their final drafts before the submission deadline.

The responses were very positive: the tool successfully identified a variety of issues, including calculation and logic errors. Here we report how we developed the tool and the results of its use.

Research