Project Genie adds Google Street View integration and goes live for global AI Ultra users
Source: Engadget
Overview
Project Genie is rolling out today for all adult Google AI Ultra subscribers worldwide, following its debut in the United States earlier this year. The service lets users generate explorable, snow‑globe‑style 3D environments from written prompts. Each creation lasts 60 seconds, plays at 720p and 24 fps, and includes a user‑defined character and a movable camera.
Street View Integration
A new Street View capability lets users base their AI‑generated worlds on real‑world locations pulled from Google Maps. The feature currently supports places in the United States, with plans to expand to additional locations over time. In a demo video shown at Google I/O, the Golden Gate Bridge was transformed into an underwater scuba scene, illustrating how real‑world snapshots can be reimagined in a virtual environment.
How It Works
- Prompt – Users describe the desired scene and any characters they want to include.
- Location (optional) – Selecting a Google Maps location provides a Street View image that grounds the AI generation in reality.
- Generation – The system creates a 3D environment lasting 60 seconds, rendered at 720p/24 fps.
- Exploration – Users can move the camera around the scene and view it from different angles.
Comparison to Other Tools
While Project Genie’s output resembles the bubble‑like worlds produced by tools such as Cocoon, it is not a game generator. The service focuses on generating limited 3D environments with a controllable camera attached to an avatar, rather than providing the full suite of mechanics, persistence, and narrative flow required for comprehensive game development.