Theory of Space: Can Foundation Models Construct Spatial Beliefs through Active Exploration?

A new study finds that powerful foundation models are surprisingly poor at active exploration. When tasked with building a mental map of an environment, they are inefficient and unsystematic. A key issue is 'Belief Inertia,' where models fail to update their outdated assumptions with new evidence. This creates a significant performance gap between passive perception and the self-directed action needed for true spatial intelligence.