Struggling with bedtime stories? Meta has an AI designed to help kids settle down for the night.

      Bedtime storytelling can place an excessive creative burden on parents attempting to soothe their overstimulated children to sleep. Meta may have found a solution to this challenge. The company plans to utilize AI to take charge of narratives featuring dragons, enchanted forests, and timely lessons about sharing.

      Meta is currently testing StoryKit, a free iPhone app that crafts customized children's stories through AI. The company has confirmed that it is piloting the app in select countries to assess interest from parents, with current availability in Mexico but not in the United States. A wider release date has not yet been announced.

      Transform your child or their toy into the protagonist.

      StoryKit starts by prompting parents to create a character. Users can either describe one manually or take a photograph of their child, a person, or a beloved toy, allowing the AI to recreate it in the story. Parents then select a setting, like an enchanted forest, a distant galaxy, or an underwater world, and choose a lesson centered on values such as courage, kindness, or empathy. The app generates the narrative along with AI illustrations, narration, and even background music.

      Meta

      The finished story can be converted into a narrated picture book, an audiobook suitable for hands-free listening, a read-aloud script for parents, or a printable PDF. Saved stories are stored in a private library, and downloaded tales can be accessed offline. Meta affirms that the app does not contain advertising, in-app purchases, or social features.

      The finished story can be converted into a narrated picture book, an audiobook suitable for hands-free listening, a read-aloud script for parents, or a printable PDF. Saved stories are stored in a private library, and downloaded tales can be accessed offline. Meta affirms that the app does not contain advertising, in-app purchases, or social features.

      The idea has a genuinely helpful aspect. An exhausted parent can quickly create a story around their child’s current fascination, while the printable and read-aloud options ensure parental involvement instead of leaving a phone to manage bedtime on its own. However, this does bring up some concerning questions.

      Sharing a child’s photo with Meta seems risky.

      Amazon

      Meta states that StoryKit includes AI content filters, safety protocols, and PIN protection. The company also informed TechCrunch that the app is designed for users over 18, even though its stories are primarily aimed at young children. Parents should still review the privacy policies carefully before uploading family photos. According to Apple’s listing, StoryKit may collect photos, videos, and other personal data that could be considered intrusive at first glance.

      AI-driven children's products have previously raised issues regarding inappropriate content, data collection, and adult-oriented systems appearing in toys. StoryKit’s structure, which is controlled by parents and devoid of social features, mitigates some of these risks. Thus, while it may help alleviate the burden on tired parents, it takes away from the personal rituals that involve ever-changing stories and the imaginative involvement of both parents and children.