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Part of the problem with the current centralization of the world's math capability within AI labs is that if they do find that P=NP via an efficient algorithm, it could have implications on all modern public key based cryptography. So it's not completely clear that they will (be allowed to) release these results.
> it could have implications on all modern public key based cryptography

Here's a nice low-budget scifi movie about this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_Salesman_(2012_film...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgeyHkP6i3g (full movie)

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> if AI frontier labs do find that P=NP via an efficient algorithm, it could have implications on all modern public key based cryptography.

The fact that other math problems are bulk solved yet nothing from cryptography was released/published as solved could be a strong indicator that "all modern public key based cryptography" could have been at risk.

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I think a proof of P=NP via a galactic algorithm is far more likely than a proof of P=NP via an efficient algorithm.

I mean if someone develops an O(n^100) algorithm for solving an NP-complete problem, that would prove P=NP, but pose no immediate threat to cryptography.

It increases risk, in that a galactic algorithm increases the odds that an efficient algorithm exists waiting to be found, but it is entirely (epistemically) possible that the galactic algorithm exists but the efficient algorithm doesn't.

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The 2012 movie "Travelling Salesman" is a thought provoking film that explores this scenario.