Google in this again, once again insists that AI is something that people need or want in their lives. The latest move from YouTube Gaming, which Office has partnered an open beta for a project called Playables Builder. This allows selected YouTube Creators to use a “prototype web app built with Gemini 3” to create bite-sized games, no coding required.

YouTube is trying to add the small games on its desktop and mobile platforms back in 2023, then added multiplayer capabilities of Playables last year. Since AI appears in all Google-owned services, today’s news may not be a surprise.

The premise seems similar to Disco and GenTabs projects recently announced at Google Labs. They offer an AI layer to web browsing: provide a natural language input, get an interactive widget that does what you ask. Despite my skeptical nature of AI, I can see the tools having some practical applications for search, where the goal is to compile whatever data you’re looking for in a manageable, easy-to-read interface.

But a game is not simple. A good game takes a simple idea and, with finesse and repetition and skill, transforms it into a truly enjoyable experience. It’s a cute parlor trick that AI assistants can help people do things without technical knowledge, but there’s a reason professional game developers work so hard to get all their knowledge. Playables Builder is a peak example of misunderstanding what artificial intelligence is best at. Just because a chatbot can make a game doesn’t mean anyone will enjoy playing it.