Images, videos, and apps! A collection of ideas for enjoying "creation" with Google AI

Hello, this is the official note editorial department for Google's AI, "Gemini".

Have you ever had a wonderful idea pop into your head—like "It would be convenient if something like this existed" or "I'd love to make that, but it seems a bit difficult"—only to keep it quietly to yourself?

Google's AI can turn those "sudden inspirations" into creations with surprising ease.

In this article, we will introduce Google's AI tools that are useful in various creative situations. We will explain tools for everything from brainstorming with Gemini to easily creating images, videos, and even apps and games, along with how to use them.

First, let's find the first step toward giving shape to your own "inspirations" right here.

First, try talking to Gemini about "what you want to create"

Even if you have the passion to "create," there are times when you can't organize your specific ideas or you hit a wall when thinking by yourself.

In such moments, Gemini becomes the perfect partner for "bouncing ideas around."

For example, just like thinking about how to spend your weekend, try asking it something like this:

Then, it will quickly come up with ideas you wouldn't have thought of on your own.

It's packed with ideas that will get kids excited, and you can imagine a fun weekend. In this way, the dialogue with Gemini significantly lowers the hurdle of going from "0 to 1," and you should be able to see a concrete "1" that makes you think, I can do this!

Giving shape to ideas with AI

Let's finally turn the ideas you got from your dialogue with Gemini into a "visible form"! Google's AI tools are packed with features that easily generate creative works from prompts, so no specialized skills or difficult operations are required.

Here, we will introduce tools that fulfill your "I want to try making this" and unique use cases.

Edit images exactly as you want with Nano Banana

The feature of "Nano Banana" is that it doesn't just generate images, but also allows you to edit them while maintaining the "consistency" of characters, backgrounds, and more. For example, based on a photo or a generated image, you can give follow-up instructions in a conversational format, such as "make this character smile" or "make them pose waving their hand."

For example, let's try making a birthday card using a photo of your pet.

Let's change this further into a Christmas version.

In this way, you can add items or change designs without altering the character's appearance.

Turning your pet into a figurine is also a very interesting idea.

You can also "enlarge" doodles you've drawn in a notebook,

You can even simulate nail designs!

Nano Banana, which can be used in various ways depending on your ideas, greatly expands the scope of your creative activities.

For more details on the features and usage of Nano Banana, please also refer to the explanatory article below.

Create a "one-of-a-kind" original picture book with Storybook

"Storybook" is a tool that allows AI to automatically generate an original picture book just by entering the protagonist's name, characteristics, and the theme of the story.

"I want to make a picture book where my child is the protagonist and read it to them!" It brings such wonderful imaginings to life in an instant.
Storybook and try creating one by entering the following into the prompt.

Along with vivid illustrations, a 10-page story is completed in no time!

While the name and theme are enough, conveying the art style will result in a finish closer to your vision.

Also, since Storybook allows you to include files in the prompt, you can create an even more polished original picture book by uploading a portrait of your child or similar images.

Expand your ideas with Gemini and finish them with Storybook. By repeating this process, you can create many picture books! It seems like it will be the perfect partner for bedtime reading.

This article introduces concrete ideas for utilizing Storybook not only for "picture book creation" but also for various daily and work scenarios, such as "language learning materials" and "business presentation materials." It makes you realize the unexpected possibilities and depth of generating "stories" with AI.

Also, Storybook has a "read aloud" feature, so you can even use it as English listening material.

It's also wonderful to create a picture book on the theme of the importance of "empathizing" with a partner's feelings and read it together as a couple.

Since Storybook can also be used as a "personalized picture book" for adults, why not try creating a story based on your own challenges or goals?

For more details on the features and how to use Storybook, please also refer to the explanatory article below.

Trying to animate "still images" with Veo

What fulfills your creative desire as the "next step" in image generation is the video generation AI, "Veo".

Veo can not only generate high-quality videos from text, but it is also possible to load an original "image" as a prompt.

With this, while maintaining the consistency of the character in the image, you can bring them to life as if they were breathing, just by giving instructions like "this character jumping" or "skipping through a meadow."
Veo is used by selecting "Video Generation" in the Gemini app. Then, just add images as needed and provide scene or motion instructions as follows.

In this way, Veo generates dynamic videos while maintaining the character's visuals.

This article is fun with the idea of using Veo to bring famous paintings to life, such as Van Gogh's "Café Terrace at Night" or Vermeer's "The Milkmaid," under the theme of what if those famous paintings started moving...?

Also, even if you don't use images as source material, you can express such realistic dream worlds by giving detailed instructions in text.

For more details on the features and how to use Veo, please also refer to the explanatory article below.

Trying to create an "original app" with Canvas

When hearing "app development," many people might feel the hurdle is high, thinking "programming is required" or "it's impossible unless you're an expert."

What if you could create your own original app just by telling AI in a conversation, "I want to create an app like this"?"Canvas" makes exactly that possible.

For example, you can create a game app like this.

As tools, apps can be used for a wider range of creative projects depending on your ideas, from the practical to the fun. Whether for learning or play, you can bring your "I want to create this" ideas to life.

Furthermore, Canvas can also create "slides"! It turns presentation materials and manuals into sophisticated, "clear and easy-to-read" slides.

For more details on Canvas features and how to use them, please also refer to the explanatory article below.

Creating new visuals by "combining materials" with Whisk

While Nano Banana and Veo mainly convey intent to AI via "prompts," "Whisk" is a tool that allows you to create new works more intuitively by "combining images."

The unique thing about Whisk is that complex prompts are unnecessary. Just by dragging and dropping multiple source images, the AI generates a new single image that mixes them all together.

This time, I'd like to combine a photo of a cute dog with a few materials.

Access Whisk and drop the dog photo into the "Model" section. Select the "Background" and "Style" using the "dice" icon (of course, you can also use images you've prepared yourself!).

First, I'll try "sending" without entering a prompt.

It took my beloved dog into a slightly unusual fairy-tale world.

Next, I'll try editing this image.
Hover over the generated image you like and click "Edit" to enter "Adjustment Mode." Since it looks like a town made of cheese, it might be fun to have it hold some cheese in its mouth. I'll enter a simple prompt.

It has an atmosphere that blends even more into this world..

Furthermore, Whisk can turn this image into an animation! Close "Edit Mode," hover over the edited image, and click "Animate." All you have to do is enter a prompt about the movement.

It finished eating it perfectly. At the end, it even licks its lips, expressing a sense of satisfaction. This is the real thrill of Whisk: the fun of being able to fuse images from different worlds and even turn them into short movies.

In this article, we report on the fun results of generating images in various styles, based on the theme: 'What if you used Whisk to transform your favorite original characters into bento boxes, chocolates, or capsule toys?' It serves as a reference for exploring the possibilities of character design while enjoying the 'randomness' of AI image generation.

This is another wonderful way to use it.

Turning 'Difficult Materials' into 'Easy-to-Understand Explanatory Videos' with NotebookLM

NotebookLM is a research and thinking partner that allows you to upload files in various formats and use that information to create summaries, reports, and delve deeper through chat.

But that's not all; NotebookLM also has a feature called Audio Overview that generates videos with 'slides + AI narration'.

To create one, first access NotebookLM, then 'create a new notebook' and 'upload your materials' just as you would normally.

You can click 'Audio Overview' in the 'Studio' panel to generate one immediately, but this time, we'll use the 'Edit (pen)' icon to customize the format and visuals a bit. We intentionally chose a simple 'Overview' format and a 'Cute' style that feels far removed from the source content.

Generating the video overview takes a little time, so we'll wait a while. And here is the completed video (slides).

That difficult classic text has become a 'cute' explanatory video lasting just a few minutes.

NotebookLM's 'Audio Overview' provides not only audio but also visual aids in the form of slides, which deepens understanding. It's a new style of input where you can enjoy creation and learning at the same time!

This article reports on the process of feeding your own articles on specialized topics into NotebookLM and converting them into videos. It's content that expands the new possibilities of information dissemination.

Furthermore, this article introduces concrete ideas for using it from the perspective of a former teacher, such as turning various 'materials' in a school setting—like textbook preparation materials, staff meeting documents, and parent orientation materials—into videos. It's practical content that makes you feel the arrival of the day when 'AI becomes a teacher's right-hand man.'

For more details on the features and usage of NotebookLM and 'Audio Overview,' please also refer to the explanatory articles below.

Creating 'Real Things' with AI

Up to this point, we have introduced 'digital works' created with AI.

But Gemini's role isn't limited to the digital world! Gemini also gives us plenty of ideas in our daily lives.

For example, having Gemini help come up with topics for board games to enjoy as a couple.

Or having Gemini suggest a '1-week bento menu'.

It's very convenient that you can specify detailed conditions to match your preferences, such as "for men in their 20s, high protein."

Here are some other wonderful note projects where people challenged themselves to "create" with Gemini.

A one-of-a-kind baby gym created with Gemini

This is a chronicle of a struggle to complete a "one-of-a-kind" DIY baby gym, utilizing Gemini as a partner for brainstorming and research, covering everything from character design and material selection to fabric printing and even sewing, which the author was not used to.

The joy of "making things" through trial and error with AI, as well as warm family love, comes through.

"I want to be a tiger!" Fully supporting a daughter's dream with Gemini

This is a record of an independent research project taken on with Gemini to support a daughter's pure passion of "wanting to be a tiger!" Through the unique and authentic "tiger training" proposed by Gemini, it vividly depicts how a child's sense of inquiry develops into deep learning.

Recreating memories of Mexican cuisine with "Gemini-amigo"

I want to recreate the taste of "mole" from my time studying abroad in Mexico back in Japan! But I can't get the local ingredients... When I consulted Gemini about this, it gave me some surprising alternatives! This is an exciting food adventure story that blends Gemini's suggestions with the author's own experience.

With Gemini, creation becomes more accessible

What did you think of these creative projects using Google AI, including Gemini?

I hope you felt the potential that "you can create so many different things!"

AI is not just for experts; it can be the best "partner" to help realize the "flashes of inspiration" in our daily lives.

Please try talking to Gemini about the "ideas that pop into your mind."

We are currently holding a note submission contest: "#TriedCreatingWithAI."

Submissions are open until Tuesday, December 9. We would love for you to post about your "tried creating" experiences using Google AI, including Gemini.

We are looking forward to your "#TriedCreatingWithAI" projects!

Click here for contest details.

Click here for the free "Gemini App" and other tools!
▼ Gemini App
▼ NotebookLM
▼ Whisk