> The reason why he is gaining this popularity isn't anything to do with his academic achievements though. It's because of him being a child prodigy that is commenting on AI in math. So yes, he is reaching much further than his base, especially because of OpenAI's advancements in math and what it means about AI capability going forward. He has essentially positioned himself as the voice of mathematicians' position on AI and math.
Reducing him to child prodigy is, I don't know, condescending? You do realise he's one of the greatest living mathematicians, right? Child prodigy sounds as if his greatest life achievements was being smart kid or something, not his substantial contributions to mathematics as an adult. He was one of the most important voices in maths long before transformers were discovered.