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Home/Models & Labs
Models & Labs

Worldmodeldata brokers video game data for AI training

WIRED AI·September 28, 2026·high confidence

Why it matters

  • →Addresses the critical shortage of high-quality physical interaction data for world models.
  • →Offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative to manual sensor data collection.
  • →Highlights the ongoing debate between using simulated vs. real-world physics for AI training.
Worldmodeldata brokers video game data for AI training
©WIRED AI

Worldmodeldata, a UK-based startup advised by Yann LeCun, has licensed nearly one million hours of video game data to train world models. The company acts as a broker, aggregating controller inputs and visual data from various studios to create training datasets for embodied AI. While Nvidia and other labs prefer custom physics engines for fine motor control, Worldmodeldata argues that the volume and variety of gameplay data are essential for general navigation and handling edge cases in autonomous systems. Industry experts remain divided on whether game physics is sufficiently accurate for real-world deployment.

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