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An eight-year-old boy from India has built an offline AI storytelling device using a Rs. 760 ESP32 chip. Laksh created the small AI device to make up stories, read them aloud, show simple animations, and follow voice commands. The device works without WiFi, cloud services, or internet.
Laksh built the project by customizing the open-source TinyStories LLM for ESP32. The original model supported offline story generation, while the young developer added voice interaction, playback controls, and on-screen animations to improve the overall experience. Developers can also access the original source code on GitHub and build similar projects.
During the live demo, Laksh gave the command, "Make a funny story," and the device quickly created a new story. It then reads the story aloud while showing simple animations on the screen. The AI also understood commands like "play," "pause," "resume," and "next story."
Laksh said the next step is to improve the text-to-speech system because the English voice still sounds basic. Even with that limitation, the project shows how a low-cost chip can run AI without using online services.
The project also shows how open-source AI and affordable hardware can help students and young creators build useful technology. Offline AI devices like this can also help schools and places where internet access is slow or not available.
Laksh's project proves that good ideas and simple tools can create something impressive without spending a lot of money.
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