# Researchers and Startups Shift Toward World Models

> Source: <https://letsdatascience.com/news/researchers-and-startups-shift-toward-world-models-5a793fd1>
> Published: 2026-07-03 23:01:01+00:00

For AI practitioners, the shift from text-only LLMs to models that simulate physical dynamics changes validation, data collection, and safety testing requirements. Reporting by AI Business and TechBuzz shows a wave of investment and product pivots toward so-called "world models." AI Business and TechBuzz report that Runway closed a **$315 million** financing at a **$5.3 billion** valuation and is directing capital toward world-model pretraining. Towards AI reports that Yann LeCun left Meta in November 2025 and, per that coverage, launched a new startup, **AMI Labs**, in March 2026 focused on world models. Reporting from the OC Register and Threads (The Information snippet) documents broader activity: ex-Nvidia and ex-DeepMind researchers are launching startups and legacy players including Nvidia and Google are developing physics-aware or general world models. AI Business also quotes analyst Lian Jye Su on enterprise demand for predictability and safety from these models.