A tool that weaves the fabric of your reality into captivating narratives, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. This isn't just a figment of imagination but a tangible experience I've crafted, introducing... "AI Primer: Stories Inspired by Your World." [the crowd oohs and ahhs]
My journey into this creation was fueled in part by the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer in Neal Stephenson's book, "The Diamond Age." The other part was a personal quest to delve deeper into usable AI and SwiftUI programming. It was about combining the lore of storytelling with a hefty serving of technology, creating something that wasn't just innovative but also profoundly personal.
"AI Primer" is simple. Start with your name or an alias (or, as kids taught me, goofy words to see if the AI would say them),
capture a photo with your iPad, and then select the narrative that calls to you—be it a whimsical tale, an enlightening article, a poetic verse, a compelling sales pitch, or an enchanting story in Spanish.
Once you make your choice, the AI, with a multitude of voices, spins together a tale and brings your story to life verbally.
The app is a cobbled-together collection of available AI APIs and some creative SwiftUI engineering, designed to work on iOS devices. The interface is simple as to not distract from the experience.
In one word: dope! The joy it sparks in those who interact with it is real. "AI Primer" offers a fun and unique way of crafting narratives by intertwining elements of your environment into the storyline. It's more than an app; it's a new lens through which to view your world.
What stood out as I watched others use it, from young to old, is how AI never replaced creativity. Instead, it actively encouraged experimentation. The joy of making up silly names and photographing single objects or full environments would ultimately lead to stories that traversed from "whoa, that’s crazy" to the surprisingly unexpected (like having the AI sell me a half-eaten hot dog).
"AI Primer" stands at the crossroads of technology and imagination, offering a unique platform to merge the bits and bytes of AI with the timeless art of storytelling. It's a testament to the joy of creation and the power of stories to connect us to our world in novel ways. It just happens to use a touch of cutting-edge innovation as the base sauce. And I think it’s delicious.
Reach out if you have thoughts or would like to bring your story to life.
In the years to come, AR glasses will have a profound effect on how we work, play, and get things done. Let’s not talk hypotheticals. Let’s craft the vision, roll up our sleeves, and build that reality!