New Story Generation Tool from Google
Google has unveiled an exciting enhancement to its Gemini AI chatbot, introducing a feature named “Storybook.” This innovative tool allows users to create illustrated bedtime stories simply by describing them.
How It Works
With Storybook, users can generate 10-page narratives that come with a short paragraph per page, complete with the ability for Gemini to read the text aloud. Moreover, each story is paired with illustrations that bring the narrative to life.
Customization Options
- Users can specify various art styles for the illustrations, drawing inspiration from:
- Claymation
- Anime
- Comics
- And more
- The feature also allows users to upload personal images, such as a child’s drawing, and prompt Gemini to craft a story based on it.
Testing the Feature
Curious about the capabilities, I decided to test the feature by asking Gemini to create a story about a catfish trying to make friends in a new aquarium. As I browsed the generated pages, I found the plot—concerning the fish working together to move a marble—somewhat uninspiring. However, the experience took a quirky turn when I noticed one illustration depicted a fish with a human arm.
Examples of AI Quirks
In another story, an illustration involving spaghetti sauce resembled a cartoon crime scene, and an image showing a mother and son watching TV had the screen awkwardly placed on the wrong side. A colleague, Andrew Liszewski, pointed out another oddity in a promotional video from Google, where a woman was seen attempting to build a spaceship while making nonsensical noises.
Overall Experience
Despite the occasional discrepancies in character designs, I did not encounter many glaring errors in other stories generated by Gemini. However, my attempt to upload a drawing of a cartoon cat didn’t quite align with my expectations regarding the artistic interpretation, highlighting the tool’s limitations.
Availability
The Gemini Storybook feature is now available worldwide for both desktop and mobile devices, supporting all languages currently offered by Gemini.
