Beyond LLMs: The Rise of World Models and WAMs
Explore the shift from Large Language Models to World Models. Learn how World-Action Models (WAMs) bridge the grounding gap to understand the physical world.
Best quote from Beyond LLMs: The Rise of World Models and WAMs
We’re moving from the library to the playground, and that shift is backed by the idea that predicting the next pixel is more important for physical intelligence than predicting the next word.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
What's next beyond LLMs and Agents, specifically focusing on the development of world models and physical AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Large Language Models are masters of text and language, often compared to someone who has read every book in a library but never stepped outside. While LLMs excel at explaining concepts, they often lack an understanding of physical reality. World Models and World-Action Models (WAMs) represent the next step in AI, moving beyond words to understand the physical consequences of actions and how the real world functions.
The grounding gap refers to the disconnect between an AI's digital intelligence and its understanding of the physical world. As Yann LeCun points out, the world is not made of words, yet current LLMs are primarily trained on text. This gap means that while an AI can debate philosophy or physics, it may not understand basic physical interactions, such as how a shadow stretches or how to catch a falling glass.
World-Action Models, or WAMs, are advanced AI systems that are essentially pretrained to imagine the physical outcomes of their actions before they take them. Unlike standard LLMs or simple digital agents, WAMs create a mental playground or simulation to predict consequences. This capability is essential for autonomous systems, such as robots cleaning a kitchen or self-driving cars navigating a storm, to function safely and effectively in real-life environments.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
