Audio episode : Genie 3 — highlights 12 min ▶ Listen Genie 3 by Google DeepMind: AI starts creating realistic simulations in real time What if a simple sentence were enough to bring to life a 3D world that is playable, coherent, and ready to explore? That’s exactly what Genie 3, the new simulation model from Google DeepMind, promises to do. More than just a video generator, it’s a true “universe modeler” that you can interact with in real time. Intriguing, isn’t it? ➥ What exactly is Genie 3? Imagine writing “a snow-covered forest at sunset” and seeing that world appear… then being able to walk around in it like in a video game. Genie 3 is an AI model designed to create interactive 3D environments from simple text descriptions. Unlike its predecessors (Genie 1 and 2), it focuses on image stability and interactivity, with a clear ambition: to serve as a virtual training ground for increasingly autonomous AI systems. Screenshot from the official Deepmind.google website In other words, before learning in the real world, agents can practice in simulated, credible, and dynamic environments. It’s a bit like an ultra-realistic simulator… but generated entirely on the fly. ➥ Why this model is impressive Replicates physical phenomena: light, water, movements, and natural events. Creates fictional worlds: animated scenes and reconstructed historical locations. Instant generation: images produced in real-time as actions occur, like in an interactive game. You look at a door, open it, and the set changes right before your eyes. Can you picture it? Some even go so far as to say that this new breakthrough reinforces the simulation hypothesis —nothing less! Discover Genie 3 in action Dynamic worlds where you can navigate in real time ➥ How it works (without technical jargon) Genie 3 operates in an “autoregressive” manner: at any given moment, it takes into account what it has already shown and what the user has just done to create the next image. In other words, it has a kind of short-term memory that allows it to keep track of the scene, objects, and actions. The result: an interactive environment that is constantly evolving, not just a video that you watch passively. ➥ Create a world with just text To generate an environment, we describe what we want to see, for example: “A cyberpunk alley bathed in neon and rain” “An ancient temple in the middle of a lush jungle” “A silent space station with a view of a giant planet” Example of a prompt for Genie 3 In just a few seconds, the world appears in 720p, running smoothly at 24 frames per second, and you can move around it just like in a traditional game (using a keyboard/mouse, controller, etc.). ➥ An amazing memory of the world This is one of Genie 3’s superpowers: it “remembers” objects, textures, and modifications for several minutes. If you leave a mark on a wall, modify a table, or move an object, these changes will remain even after you leave the area and return. Everything can be changed! Even better, you can trigger “global events” with text: change the weather, make characters appear, modify a setting in real time. Imagine setting up a scene, then saying “a sandstorm is coming” and seeing the world react instantly. It opens up enormous creative possibilities. Screenshot from the official Deepmind.google website ➥ What is its practical use? Training and simulation: robots and autonomous agents (warehousing, rescue, navigation, manipulation). Rapid prototyping: for video games and animation. Immersive education: historical reconstructions, interactive science experiments. Content creation: quick test scenes without lengthy 3D modeling. Want to test a game level idea in one hour instead of a week? That’s the kind of promise. ➥ What we like… and what still needs work Good things Live-playable 3D worlds. Visual stability over several minutes. Changes triggered by simple text instructions. Excellent training ground for AI agents and simulations. Ideal for quickly testing content ideas. Negative points Limited interaction time (a few minutes). Difficult management of complex interactions between multiple agents. Imperfect fidelity for real-world locations. Occasionally blurry or illegible generated text. Possible small physical inconsistencies (“strange” images). Requires significant computing power. Have you ever seen AI “forget” a detail or generate a slightly crooked chair? Here, that can happen, but the direction is clearly the right one. ➥ How much does it cost? For now, Genie 3 is not available to the general public. It is available in “research preview” mode to a small group of researchers and creators. No official price has been announced at this stage. Keep an eye out for any announcements regarding an expanded or commercial version ➥ Who is it for? Today: researchers in AI, robotics, autonomous agents. Tomorrow: game studios, video creators, animators, R&D teams. And more generally: education, training, simulation, creative experimentation. To sum up: a perfect tool for quick testing, risk-free learning, and big thinking. ➥ Some alternatives to Genie 3 (comparison table) Here are some fairly similar tools, although Genie 3 stands out for its real-time interactivity in a generated 3D world: Platform Type Feature Performance Purpose Google Genie 3 AI World Generator Interactive 3D environments from text 720p, 24 FPS Limited research, virtual world creation Decart Oasis Real-time world model AI-generated Minecraft gameplay 20 FPS Interactive game based on diffusion transformers Nvidia Isaac Lab Simulation environment Programmable, reproducible simulators Variable depending on config Training robots and autonomous vehicles Unity (with AI) Real-time rendering engine Creation of interactive AR/VR experiences Up to 4K depending on hardware Commercial development platform Cesium + Unreal Engine 5 Geospatial simulation Photorealistic 3D environments with real-world data 4K+, variable performance Defense, training, geosimulation Question for you: do you prefer interactive worlds generated on the fly, or ultra-realistic but unplayable videos? The choice varies depending on the use case. ➥ Our review Genie 3 caused a sensation as soon as it was unveiled, and for good reason: it marks a step forward toward coherent, playable, and responsive worlds, where other models were content to simply generate videos. Yes, there are still limitations (duration, multi-agents, physical accuracy), and the question of the necessary resources is very real. But the trajectory is exciting: a pivotal tool for research and an accelerator for creation, simulation, and, ultimately, smarter systems. Something to think about A little anecdote to finish: imagine a robot that learns to open a door in a virtual apartment generated on demand, then immediately relearns in a warehouse, then in the mountains, simply because we “told” the system to do so. This isn’t science fiction, it’s the vision that Genie 3 is taking us towards. ➥ FAQ: 15 most frequently asked questions Is Genie 3 a video game? + No. It’s an AI technology capable of generating worlds you can play in and interact with—similar to a game engine, but controlled entirely through text prompts. What is the image quality and frame rate? + Environments are rendered in 720p at 24 frames per second. Does it handle multiple agents interacting with each other? + Not very well for now, especially when it comes to complex interactions. When will it be available to everyone? + No public release date has been announced yet. The current version is reserved for research purposes. Can it perfectly recreate Paris or Tokyo? + Not at the moment. Genie 3 excels in imaginative creations but still struggles with precise real-world geographic accuracy. What’s the difference between Genie 3 and ChatGPT? + ChatGPT generates text, while Genie 3 creates interactive 3D virtual worlds. While ChatGPT helps you write and think, Genie 3 literally lets you explore AI-generated universes in real time! How can I use Genie 3 for free? + For now, Genie 3 is not publicly accessible for free. Google DeepMind has limited it to a small group of researchers as part of a “restricted research” program. No free version has been announced. Genie 3 vs Oasis: Which is better for world creation? + Genie 3 excels at freely creating varied environments from text descriptions, while Oasis focuses on Minecraft-style experiences. Genie 3 offers greater creative flexibility, but Oasis is currently available to the public. Can you play games created with Genie 3? + Yes, but with limitations! Genie 3 environments are explorable and interactive like a game, but sessions only last a few minutes. It’s not yet a full-fledged game engine—more of a generator for short interactive experiences. When will Genie 3 be available to the general public? + No official release date has been provided by Google DeepMind. The model remains in an advanced research phase. Experts estimate it may take several months—or even years—before public availability. What PC specs are required to run Genie 3? + Google DeepMind has not disclosed the exact hardware requirements. Given the model’s complexity, a high-end setup with a powerful GPU and plenty of RAM will likely be necessary. Access may be provided through cloud computing. Can Genie 3 create animated characters? + Partially! Genie 3 can include animated elements within its environments but is not specialized in creating complex characters. Its main strength remains generating interactive environments and scenery. Will Genie 3 revolutionize the video game industry? + Potentially, yes! Genie 3 could transform level prototyping and speed up environment creation. However, traditional engines like Unity will still be essential for fully optimized, complete games. Can you export worlds created with Genie 3? + Google DeepMind has not confirmed this feature. In theory, generated environments could be converted to other formats, but no technical details have been shared about export capabilities. Can Genie 3 create educational environments for schools? + Absolutely! This is one of its most promising applications. Imagine recreating Ancient Rome for a history class or exploring the inside of a cell in biology. Genie 3 offers groundbreaking opportunities for immersive learning. Learn more and give it a try!