Subvolts take Understand how AI will see and interact with the 3D world, not just text. Nov 23, 2025
For you
Developers
Learn about new AI architectures and training objectives for building more capable AI systems.
Business
Understand how spatial AI could transform robotics, simulation, and design workflows for future applications.
Hype note
3/5Notable

This interview features a leading researcher discussing a significant shift in AI towards understanding the physical world, relevant to future AI capabilities.

#303 Fei-Fei Li: Spatial Intelligence, World Models & the Future of AI

1 h 01 Interview Hosts: Craig S. Smith
0:001:00:59

Audio streams from Craig S. Smith. Your place is remembered on this device.

From Subvolts

Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.

Summary

Eye on AI host Craig Smith interviews Fei Fei Li about spatial intelligence and world models. They discuss how AI can understand and interact with the 3D world, moving beyond text. The conversation covers models like Marble, multimodal inputs, creating digital worlds for robotics and design, and challenges in AI memory and learning.

Explained simply

Imagine teaching AI to understand a room like you do, not just read about it. This episode discusses how AI can learn about 3D spaces, which could help robots navigate or design virtual worlds.

Why listen

This episode explores the next frontier in AI: spatial intelligence. Listeners will learn how machines might perceive and interact with the physical world, a key area for robotics and simulation. It's for AI researchers and developers interested in moving AI beyond language. This work connects to frontier labs' efforts in multimodal AI and embodied AI, aiming to build more capable and grounded AI systems.

On the mic
  • HostCraig S. Smith
  • GuestFei Fei Li
About
Key facts
  • Guest: Fei Fei Li
  • Title: #303 Fei-Fei Li: Spatial Intelligence, World Models & the Future of AI
  • Show: Eye on AI
  • Length: 61 minutes
  • Model Example: Marble builds consistent and persistent 3D spaces
Show notes from Craig S. Smith

This episode is sponsored by AGNTCY. Unlock agents at scale with an open Internet of Agents.

Visit https://agntcy.org/ and add your support.

How will AI evolve once it can understand and reason about the 3D world, not just text on a screen?

In this episode of Eye on AI, host Craig Smith speaks with Fei Fei Li about the rise of spatial intelligence and the world models that could transform how machines perceive, imagine, and interact with reality.

We explore how spatial intelligence goes beyond language to connect perception, action, and reasoning in physical environments. You will hear how models like Marble build consistent and persistent 3D spaces, why multimodal inputs matter, and what it takes to create digital worlds that are useful for robotics, simulation, design, and creative workflows. Fei Fei also explains the challenges of long term memory, continuous learning, and the search for training objectives that mirror the role next token prediction plays in language models.

Learn how spatial reasoning unlocks new possibilities in robotics and telepresence, why classical physics engines still matter, and how future AI systems may merge perception, planning, and imagination. You will also hear Fei Fei's perspective on the limits of current architectures, why true understanding is different from human understanding, and how world models could shape the next generation of intelligent systems.

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Jargon decoded
spatial intelligence
Fei Fei Li
AI's ability to understand and reason about the 3D world.
world models
Fei Fei Li
AI systems that can perceive, imagine, and interact with reality by building 3D spaces.
multimodal inputs
Fei Fei Li
AI that can process different types of information, like text, images, and sound.
next token prediction
Fei Fei Li
A method where AI predicts the next word in a sentence, common in language models.
Published
Show
Eye on AI · Craig S. Smith
Length
1 h 01
Companies
OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, Meta, xAI
Products
Marble
Summary by
Subvolts, using an AI model (how we work). Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Questions people ask

What is spatial intelligence in AI?
Spatial intelligence allows AI to understand and reason about the 3D world, connecting perception, action, and reasoning in physical environments, going beyond just processing text.
What are world models in AI?
World models are systems that could enable AI to perceive, imagine, and interact with reality by building consistent and persistent 3D spaces.

Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Craig S. Smith.