WIRED explainer: world models, from Pokémon Go scans to robots and self-driving cars
Jamie_Shotton · x · 2026-11-10
A WIRED explainer covers the rise of world models — AI that moves from text to 3D space, simulating real-world physics to train robots and autonomous cars. Niantic sold Pokémon Go and pivoted to building world models via Niantic Spatial, leveraging years of environmental scan data. Odyssey CEO Oliver Cameron explains the paradigm: 'with a language model you predict the next word; with a world model you...' simulate how scenes and actions unfold. The article argues 2027 could be a breakout year for home robotics and driverless cars powered by these models.
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