Why AI Can Write Novels but Can't Fold Laundry: The Rise of World Models

AI can generate essays, code, and even novels, but simple physical tasks like folding laundry or navigating a city street remain elusive. To bridge this gap, leading AI labs are investing in 'world models'—internal simulations that help AI understand how the physical world behaves. According to MIT Technology Review, world models could be the next big leap toward practical robotics, enabling AI to interact with the real world more effectively. Major labs are betting on this approach to move AI beyond virtual tasks into tangible, everyday applications.