Google has unveiled an innovative chess game that blends classic strategy with modern AI creativity. The highlight? Players can customize their chess pieces using generative AI, offering a unique twist to a centuries-old game.
To get started, players simply describe how they want their pieces to look—be it sci-fi warriors, mystical creatures, or even futuristic robots. Google’s Imagen 3 AI model then generates the customized white chess pieces while automatically crafting a complementary theme for the black ones. For example, asking for sci-fi-inspired pieces might result in the opponent having a fantasy-themed army.
Here are some screenshots of different prompts we tested.
Once the pieces are set, the game itself begins. While functional, the chess experience is more of a novelty than a full-featured app. Players can select between three difficulty settings and two time controls, but features like reviewing past moves or tracking captured pieces are absent. The default isometric board view is visually striking but can feel disorienting for those accustomed to traditional top-down views—though switching to the classic view is an option in the settings.
The launch of this AI-powered chess game coincided with the 2024 World Chess Championship, where reigning champion Ding Liren faces off against 18-year-old prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju. Google, a primary sponsor of the championship, appears to be using the event to spotlight its broader chess-related initiatives.
In addition to the customizable chess game, Google announced a new chess bot integrated into its Gemini AI system. Set to debut in December for Gemini Advanced subscribers, the bot will allow users to play chess by typing moves. Gemini will display the updated board as the game progresses, but as of now, the AI still struggles with accurately analyzing board positions from uploaded images.
This chess game and Google’s broader efforts highlight how technology is reshaping traditional games, offering new ways to play while maintaining the classic essence of the sport.
You can try the website here.
