Google’s Project Genie Announced, Allowing Users to Create Interactive Virtual Worlds

Google has announced its new ‘Project Genie’ AI model and web app. Following in the footsteps of Google DeepMind’s Genie 3, Project Genie enables users to create interactive and immersive worlds.

Project Genie is an AI model that “simulates the dynamics of an environment, predicting how they evolve and how actions affect them,” according to the company. The system is currently in a prototype phase, available to the $250/month Google AI Ultra users in the US. It’s powered by Genie 3, Nano Banana Pro, and Google’s own Gemini.

At first, Project Genie includes three modes to try out. This includes World Sketching, exploration and remixing. World Sketching leverages Nano Banana Pro to generate the source image for Genie 3 to create the world you can explore. Here, users are able to describe their character, tweak the camera perspective between first-person and third-person, and the ways to explore. Nano Banana Pro can then “sketch” what you’re generating and make changes for Genie 3. The AI system can also generate worlds based on written prompts that you input.

World exploration lets users navigate the world they have created. As you traverse the generated environment, Project Genie generate the path forward in real time “based on actions you take.” Adding in the remixing function, Project Genie can tweak it based on prompts.

It’s important to note that Project Genie isn’t a game engine, designed to make interactive experiences like a video game. It’s designed to simulate real-world interactions and experiences. So, traditional game-play mechanics and inputs aren’t available within Project Genie. Generated worlds are limited to 60 seconds in duration. They are also limited to 24fps and 720p resolutions.

This week, Google rolled out AI Plus in Canada for $10.99 CAD per month. The plan is designed to offer the AI productivity and creativity tools for a more affordable price when compared to Google AI Ultra. As of the time of writing, there’s no word on when Project Genie may arrive in Canada.