A Path-Space Formulation of Prediction in World Models: From a Single Action to Prediction, Planning, and Irreversibility

arXiv:2606.28751v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We propose a path-space formulation of prediction in AI world models. Rather than sequences of one-step conditional distributions, we argue that a world model implicitly defines a probability measure over future trajectories. In the local regime where latent dynamics admit an effective Markovian description, this path measure takes the Onsager-Machlup form. Within this framework, prediction (most probable trajectory), planning (constrained optimiza...