The Current State of Spatial and Cultural Intelligence
Before it is possible to develop a strategy for enhancing how digital data and systems support how we live in the world in a deeper and more intelligent manner, it is essential to map the current frontier of research. Currently, this research is largely concerned with spatial rather than cultural intelligence. This is due, in large part, because of the initial business use cases that have been identified for such intelligence as well as the extent to which many in tech have little connection to cultural production. It is also tied to a general belief that culture remains something that is somewhat nebulous and subjective. It is also seen as something that is not driven by large enterprises that are ripe to become clients of new technology and subject to low margins and general lack of economic sustainability. This view is somewhat unfortunate as it hinders that possibility of enhanced economic sustainability while also limiting the role that cultural producers can play throughout the broader economy.
Research and White Papers
-
From Fall of 2023 through Fall of 2025, Walker Thisted and Jaymes Waters collaborating on developing a Large World Model for Domestic Life as a persistent, adaptive AI system that helps people 1) imagine, plan, design & build, 2) manage, maintain & schedule, and 3) preserve & pass on the spaces we call home across all stages of life. After failing to raise sufficient capital to move beyond the stage of angel investment, they decided to shelve the project. The following are a series of documents and white papers that outline this work (click to download):
-
This research looks at both the world models that are being developed as well as how they are currently being applied. Such examples include logistics, mortgages, insurance, games, mobility, and robotics. It examines the data sets that are being used to construct those models as well as the underlying technical architecture of the model. In doing so, we also look at the hardware that is required, the overall cost of developing these models, the stakeholders investing in these models, and the ultimate horizon of a return on that investment.
-
While less common than large world models, there have been some progress in modeling culture. This line of research will explore those data scientists who are working with images, spatial data, cultural consumption, historic artifacts, and preservation. At the same time, it will look at those cultural producers who are using data as an integral tool in their practice.
Call to Action
If you are working within one of these areas and have access to insights that you think align, we would love to connect! We are actively investigating the frontier of large culture and world models in hopes of contributing to the next iterations of their development.
