Google isn’t sitting idly by while OpenAI is busy releasing its newest open-source ChatGPT models and teasing the big GPT-5 upgrade. For example, Google added several AI agents to Google Cloud that can help app developers and businesses create faster and smarter apps. The company also released a mind-blowing new AI world model called Genie 3 that lets you interact AI-generated content. Finally, Google unveiled a new Storybook mode for Gemini that lets you create illustrated stories for your kids on any topic.
The current AI models can’t achieve anywhere close to the same level of creativity as humans. They can answer questions and solve problems, but creativity isn’t their strong suit. When it is, it will likely be the dawn of artificial general intelligence (AGI), the next generation of AI that will give the AI the creativity it needs to address any situation like a human would.
But the new Storybook mode in the Gemini app doesn’t need the AI to be especially creative. It might be just what some parents need to keep their children entertained with a new bedtime story when they get bored of their favorites. It can also be a great tool to come up with new stories on the fly when your kid demands it, or to explain more complex concepts in a more digestible format. And Storybook doesn’t just create a unique digital book by following a set of instructions — it also provides picture book illustrations.
How Storybook works in the Gemini app
Google explained in a blog post that the new Storybook mode is available globally on desktop and mobile in all languages that Gemini is available. The Storybook mode is available as a Gem or a customized chatbot. Gems are the equivalent of custom GPTs in ChatGPT.
Google still labels the Storybook Gemini Gem as an experiment, warning that it may have unexpected results. This also signals that Google should improve it in the future. As for those unexpected results, you can expect hallucinations (which aren’t bad for a story) and illustration issues. For example, The Verge was presented with an image of a fish with hands. But how else would the fish push a boulder?
Other than that, the Storybook Gem lets you use Gemini as you normally would. You get to pick the AI model you want to use for the story, and you can upload files to customize the illustrated 10-page book that Gemini will imagine for you. The video above shows a Google demo of an AI story made with Storybook based on a prompt asking the AI to create a coloring book inspired by the mother’s career.
Choosing the type of illustration might be the best part of Storybook mode. For example, you can instruct the AI to use the style of your kid’s drawings to illustrate the story. The examples that the Storybook page provides also show the AI will support Anime and Claymation art. You can tweak the book until you get the desired results.
