local
Top developers are pivoting from chatbots to physical AI
By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 23, 2026
· 5 min read
Computer scientist Louis Castricato was in his eighth year studying large language models — the artificial intelligence technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude — when he started to feel like he was hitting a dead end.“We basically have passed the point of doing real fundamental LLM res...
Key takeaway “We basically have passed the point of doing real fundamental LLM research," Castricato said.
Why this matters in The Pearland
The shift from chatbots to physical AI has significant implications for the Pearland community, particularly in the realm of education and workforce development. As top developers like Overworld and World Labs pioneer "world models" that enable AI systems to navigate physical environments, local schools and universities may need to adapt their curricula to keep pace with the evolving field of artificial intelligence. This could lead to new opportunities for students and professionals in Pearland to develop skills in areas like robotics and machine learning, potentially driving innovation and economic growth in the region. Furthermore, the application of physical AI in industries such as manufacturing and logistics could also impact the local economy, as companies in these sectors may be more likely to invest in AI-powered technologies that can interact with and understand their physical environments.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 23, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Computer scientist Louis Castricato was in his eighth year studying large language models — the artificial intelligence technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude — when he started to feel like he was hitting a dead end.“We basically have passed the point of doing real fundamental LLM res...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 23, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Matt O'Brien, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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