Google just gave Gemini a pretty significant visual upgrade. The chatbot can now generate interactive 3D models and simulations directly in response to your prompts, according to The Verge AI.
Ask Gemini to simulate the Moon orbiting the Earth, and it won’t just describe it. It’ll build you a 3D model you can actually play with. Rotate it. Zoom in. Adjust the orbital speed with a slider. Toggle the orbital path on and off. Pause the whole thing. This isn’t a static image or a canned animation. It’s a real-time, interactive visualization generated on the fly.
What You Can Do With It
- Rotate and zoom any AI-generated 3D model
- Adjust sliders to change simulation parameters in real-time
- Toggle elements on and off (like orbital paths)
- Pause and resume running simulations
- Input custom values to modify the visualization
The feature works with all kinds of prompts. Google suggests trying things like “show me a double pendulum” or “help me visualize the Doppler effect.” After Gemini responds, you hit the “Show me the visualization” button to generate the interactive model.
Who Gets It
All Gemini app users can access 3D simulations right now. The only requirement: select the “Pro” model in the prompt bar before submitting your prompt. No paid tier needed, no waitlist.
The Bigger Picture
What’s interesting here is the timing. This is clearly part of an arms race in visual AI outputs. Anthropic recently gave Claude the ability to auto-generate charts, diagrams, and interactive visuals. OpenAI added math and science visualization tools to ChatGPT. Google is now pushing even further with full 3D.
Previously, Gemini could only generate interactive images. Moving to 3D models and simulations is a meaningful jump, especially for education and science use cases. Imagine a student exploring physics concepts by manipulating simulations instead of staring at textbook diagrams.
The competitive dynamic is worth watching. Each major AI company is racing to make their chatbot the most visually capable, moving well beyond text-only responses. Google’s 3D approach is the most ambitious of the three so far, though how well it handles complex simulations at scale remains to be seen.
For more details on how the feature works in practice, check out the full report from The Verge AI.