Startup’s next chapter writes itself: AI-generated bedtime story platform launches with language-building upgrades
August 9, 2023 | Channa Steinmetz
With an emphasis on diversity and creativity, JQ Sirls’ AI-powered story generator is set to redefine children’s literature while uniting generations, he said.
“I’m really trying to create these magical bonding moments between adults and children. When adults use this technology to create their own story, it makes them feel like a kid again. Then they get to read it to the child, and they share that moment together,” JQ Sirls, the founder and CEO of Pagemaster Inc. and its flagship platform, Storytailor.
Storytailor is an AI-driven platform that generates personalized stories for children ages 3 to 8, Sirls noted. Adults, parents, educators and child therapists are able to create their own tales by simply entering in a short summary choosing what type of story they’d like to tell. Story varieties include basic, bedtime, educational, inclusive, emotional growth and language building.
“Say you want to teach your three-year-old how to count to 10, but you want to do so using a story about a dog that’s playing the piano — the platform can intertwine that lesson while still giving you a fun and zany story,” Sirls explained. “Or, if you’d like to teach your child Chinese, it can be the story about the dog and piano, but now it includes Chinese words.
“The emotional growth story is for child therapy,” he continued. “Schools already handle the IQ, but I care more about the EQ, the emotional intelligence. Maybe a child is dealing with the grief of losing a parent, or anger; these stories can help that kid understand and process those feelings.”
The Storytailor platform is the second iteration of what was formerly known as Pagemaster. After months of collecting user feedback and research, Sirls rebranded and upgraded his platform to Storytailor to better reflect his mission.
“Every world is created so that every child becomes the hero of their own tale,” Sirls shared. “Our stories aren’t just personalized — they are intimate fragments of an adventure meticulously tailored for each child. … For a child who’s in a wheelchair, you can create a story where the protagonist is in a wheelchair. Then, maybe they won’t feel alone. Now, they are the superhero.”
Individuals who are interested in Storytailor can access the platform for free; but to create more in-depth, custom stories that have educational and language building elements, the platform is a monthly subscription of $12.99.
“I made sure that it was around the cost of an average picture book,” Sirls noted. “If you go to Barnes & Noble, one picture book is probably around $17.99 to $18.99, and there’s no limit to how many stories you can create with Storytailor.”
Storytailor’s upgraded platform also allows users to create sequels to their stories.
“One of the biggest pieces of feedback I received was that parents wanted to continue the bedtime story the next night with the same characters,” Sirls said. “Now, you can keep creating chapters and essentially create a chapter book.”
The next feature on the docket for Storytailor is set to include voice overs, Sirls teased.
The AI in Storytailor is not about showcasing technology, rather it is about fostering human connection, creating cherished memories and cultivating a lifelong love for learning, Sirls said.
“This technology was not created to replace people as writers and illustrators,” Sirls said. “I’m actually trying to empower people who have always wanted to write. By including more people, that is how we make the publishing industry more diverse and creative. And after a story is created, you can go in and edit the story however you’d like. The technology provides a great foundation.”
Click here to read more about why JQ Sirls is on a mission to revolutionize the publishing industry.
For those who are intimidated by either AI or writing, Sirls strongly encouraged them to try playing around with the Storytailor platform to discover the joy and ease of creating one’s own story.
“Storytailor invites parents, teachers, therapists — every person influencing young minds — to discover the magic of personalized storytelling,” Sirls said. “Together, let’s create an inclusive narrative, one story at a time.”
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