An online project from Google Labs, the tech giant’s experimental arm, offers an entertaining chess variation.
In GenChess, players create chess pieces using text prompts using Gemini Imagen 3, Google’s image generation model.
To get started, you’ll need a Gmail account to access the game. Once you’re in, click “Generate” and type what kind of chess set you want. Are you fancy playing with sushi pieces or pizza pawns? The choice is yours.
The game offers two main styles:
- Classic: Keeps the traditional chess piece look
- Creative: Takes a more artistic, abstract approach
Don’t like how a piece turned out? No problem. You can tweak individual pieces by giving new text prompts until they match your vision.
After designing your pieces, the game finds you an opponent. For example, if you create a sushi-themed set, you might face off against an AI opponent with taco-themed pieces. Players can pick from:
- Three difficulty levels: easy, medium, or hard
- Two timer settings: 5/3 or 10/0
The project aims to showcase how AI, design, and chess can work together, making image generation accessible and fun for everyone.
