Meta is piloting an AI storytelling app called StoryKit that generates personalized children's bedtime stories with custom characters, settings, and moral lessons.

The app, spotted in the App Store by 9to5Mac, is currently being tested in select countries to gauge parental response. Meta confirmed the pilot to TechCrunch but did not specify which regions have access.

StoryKit allows parents to create stories by first selecting or creating a character — users can "snap a photo of their favorite toy or person to bring them to life," according to the App Store listing. Parents then describe the story's setting and choose a lesson to "weave in values like kindness, courage, or empathy without it feeling like a lecture."

The app includes AI safety filters, has no social features, and is restricted to users over 18. As the listing notes: "You don't need to write a single word."

Meta's latest consumer AI experiment

StoryKit represents Meta's continued push into consumer AI applications, following previous launches including Instagram's AI image generators and Ray-Ban smart glasses.

The company described StoryKit as "a creative storytelling app used to craft personalized, imaginative storybooks for children" in a statement to TechCrunch.

The app targets busy parents who may struggle with bedtime storytelling, offering an automated alternative to traditional improvised tales or children's books.

Industry context

The launch comes as tech companies increasingly deploy generative AI for creative tasks traditionally handled by humans. OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude already generate stories on request, though StoryKit appears purpose-built for the children's market.

Meta has not announced broader availability plans for StoryKit or provided metrics on early user engagement during the pilot phase.

The company continues testing various AI-powered consumer applications as it seeks new revenue streams beyond its core social media advertising business.