Baidu introduced Apollo World, an agent-driven multimodal world model designed for physical AI, during its AI Day in Shenzhen on November 3, 2026. The technology is integrated into the company's robotaxi service, Apollo Go, to handle verification and simulation across virtual scenarios.
The model utilizes data from over 350 million kilometers of real-world testing conducted by the Apollo Go fleet. By treating vehicles and pedestrians as individual agents that make independent decisions, the system simulates complex traffic interactions to support intelligent decision-making.
Beyond autonomous driving, Baidu intends to extend the technology stack to robotics and other physical AI applications. The company aims to leverage its accumulated driving data to scale its autonomous deployments and reduce reliance on fresh real-world data collection.
Additionally, Baidu proposed a new 2+3 evaluation standard for world models. The company describes this framework as a rigorous method for assessing AI models, which could potentially influence industry-wide development standards for physical AI technology.
