Westlake University has officially launched the Westlake World Model Research Center at its Yungu campus. This new interdisciplinary platform focuses on the field of physical intelligence, aiming to advance how AI systems interact with the real world.
The center is led by Yu Kaicheng, an assistant professor at Westlake University and co-founder of the AI firm KMind, who serves as the director. Jin Yaochu, a chair professor and head of the AI department, has been appointed as the chief scientist.
The research initiative targets the transition of artificial intelligence from language-based cognition to physical interaction. The team aims to overcome technical barriers in how systems understand physical laws, predict environmental changes, and make autonomous decisions.
By integrating perception, cognition, and action, the center intends to develop universal world models capable of continuous learning. The project leverages the university's interdisciplinary resources to foster innovation in next-generation AI technologies.
