Only a finite number of busy beaver values can be proven from the axioms of set theory because of Gödel's incompleteness theorem; currently only four values are known (BB(1)=1, BB(2)=6, BB(3)=21, BB(4)=107), with BB(5) known only to be at least about 47 million.

factualpending

Speaker

Scott Aaronson

Evidence Quote

busy beaver of five it is only known that it's at least 47 million

Source

Scott Aaronson - Quantum Computing, Complexity, and CreativityDwarkesh Patel
Created: 6/13/2026, 7:00:25 PM

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