Physics Olympiad problems are not multiple choice. They demand multi-step derivations, physical modeling from first principles, and precise calculation , all written out in full, graded by expert physicists. That is the gauntlet AI at Meta just put one of its models through, and the result was a perfect score.
What happened
The AI at Meta team submitted a model to the theoretical examination of the 26th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO 2026), held in Busan, South Korea. The competition drew 28 delegations from 27 countries and territories, comprising 209 contestants. APhO 2026 consisted of two official exam days , one for theory and one for practical exams , each lasting five hours.
Meta's model sat only the theoretical portion. The theoretical exam covered three topics: mechanics of weighing systems, X-ray diffraction in material structure research, and magnetic resonance in external fields. The model achieved a perfect 30/30, tying with the top three human contestants in the competition. The APhO committee approved the submission and graded the model's answers using the same rubric applied to human students.
Critically, Meta has not disclosed which model was used. The announcement, posted by the AI at Meta Twitter account, refers only to "our model" , framing the result as a demonstration of advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities, without naming a specific product or release.
Why this exam is hard
The APhO is not a benchmark you can game with pattern matching. It is conducted according to similar statutes to the International Physics Olympiad, featuring one five-hour theoretical examination and one or two laboratory examinations. Approximately 240 aspiring physics students, selected from about 30 countries across Asia and Oceania, compete by demonstrating creativity and problem-solving skills through theoretical and laboratory examinations, each lasting five hours.
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