Scribble Stories

The seeds of this unique venture were sown when my five-year-old nephews shared their vibrant scribbles with me. As Björn and I tried to decipher the imaginative chaos of these artworks, a spark of an idea emerged: 'What if we use AI to interpret these scribbles?' This question marked the beginning of an innovative journey, blending technology with the boundless creativity of children.

Driven by curiosity, we experimented with AI to transform these scribbles into coherent stories. Our approach was not just technical - it was deeply personalized. We incorporated details like the children's names, their pets, interests, and family members, adding a layer of personal touch to each story. However, we encountered a challenge: my young nephews were not yet readers. Undeterred, I narrated these stories and recorded them, ensuring that the magic of their imagination was accessible to them.

Leveraging our experience from previous ventures - a startup, a crypto podcast, and a pilgrimage blog - we quickly developed a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This platform allowed parents to upload their child's scribble, share the child’s thoughts behind it, and add personal details and desired lessons. We skillfully integrated AI to interpret the scribbles and crafted personalized stories, which were then converted into audio files using AI text-to-speech technology. This entire process was automated, showcasing our proficiency in AI applications and our ability to build scalable systems.

The response from those who tested our MVP was heartwarming: children were enchanted by stories spun from their own drawings. However, despite the positive feedback, the venture didn't gain the traction we had hoped for. After three months of diligent outreach and refinement, we made the decision to not pursue this idea further. This decision was a strategic choice, made at the cusp of another one of our experiments beginning to gain attention.

This venture, while short-lived, was a testament to our ability to innovate, adapt, and use technology in creative ways. It reinforced our skills in AI integration, project development, and the art of storytelling. Each step, from conceptualization to execution, was a learning experience, further honing our capabilities and preparing us for future successes.