Google Gemini might seem like a good homework helper and a way to make a home budget, but it’s actually a powerful ideation tool as well.
As one example: I recently used the chatbot to design a new smartphone to compete with the iPhone Air. I relayed the basic specs and design aesthetic using a simple prompt, then asked the Veo 3.1 video generator to make a promo reel.
The results were, to pick a word: stunning. I was amazed at how quickly and accurately Gemini understood my prompts and designed a prototype, not only listing the features and coming up with a novel idea, but creating beautifully rendered mock-ups.
Veo 3.1 is also capable of taking the design image and then generating a promo reel — granted, one that is remarkably short. Still, the promo video also proved useful as a way to visualize how someone might use the device, and while the video only lasts a few seconds, you can continue to generate several more videos including those with and without a person.
Here’s exactly how I used these bots to design a new iPhone competitor, along with the exact prompts I used and the visual results. Will someone please make this phone? I’d like to buy one.
1. Describe what you want the bot to do
My first piece of advice is to be specific about what you want. That’s not the same as being long-winded. I gave Gemini a basic framework as a way to get started, namely:
Design a new iPhone Air that runs AndroidMake it thinner than the AirInclude a way to interact with a holographic display
Gemini surprised me by adding a ton of detail, almost like a human designer might do — the bot listed the features and specifications. (See below for the full features and specs.)
I was blown away by the first mock-up, even if it looked a bit odd and not practical. It also doesn’t show the holographic display. Here’s the first image Gemini provided:
Google / Google
The mock-up appeared almost magically out of thin air, sitting on a table as shown. I felt like I wanted to pick it up and start using it, ready to complain about the battery life per usual.
As you can see, there are two mock-ups of the same design including one with the device open and ready to be used and one closed showing the front. Both were impractical — I wondered how someone would interact with the larger display panel — but I also felt confident this was going to work.
2. Tweak the design
I asked Gemini to try again, and this time added some new prompts about a holographic display that allows you to control the device. My goal was to go a step further than a simple iPhone Air replacement, offering something new.
The first mock-up using a prompt about a holographic user interface didn’t really make sense, because the holographic image points up so you can’t interact with it. I will say, the design got me thinking, though. That might be the greatest strength of AI chatbots right now — they spur creative thinking that you can possibly give to a real hardware designer.
Here’s the initial design with the holographic image pointing up:
I then asked Gemini to tweak the design so it was possible to interact with the display.
A new mock-up didn’t make sense because it has a large projector lens. It looked like this:
I said: “That design looks like it is from 2008. Remember the phone should be thinner than the iPhone Air. The projection lens should be much smaller.”
After a few more attempts, Gemini delivered a much more interesting concept called the Aurora Flex. I even liked the name. You can see what looks like a tiny projector lens at the bottom of the device.
Google / Google
I was happier with the results, even though I had to ask Gemini to keep tweaking the design a few times. The great thing about designing a mock-up like this is you don’t have to live with the initial results. Gemini is happy to make dozens of mock-ups and won’t ever complain or argue, insisting you are asking for too many changes. Eventually, I had a design I could live with and liked.
Gemini then surprised me and offered to make a UI for the device, which I hadn’t even asked it to do. You can try out the touch interface yourself.
3. Make a promotional video
I was ready to make a promotional video to showcase my new mock-up. This is a typical next step with a design so everyone can envision how it might work.
I was specific about what I wanted Gemini to do. The prompt I used was:
Show a person using this phone. Have them say “Here is the new Aurora Flex phone, the future of smartphones with the first true holographic display.”
I was blown away by the results, not because it was such a compelling video, but mostly because — there it was, the design mock-up that Gemini created! A spokesperson said exactly what I typed in, and interacted with the device.
In this video, she awkwardly interacts with the design and somehow extends it up from the table — but for a video that took two minutes to create, it helps to visualize how the device might work.
Another video showed someone interacting with the interface and clicking on an email. That’s impressive even if, once again, Gemini didn’t quite understand how a holographic display might work.
Overall, I was impressed with what Gemini created and want to keep trying new designs.
My main takeaways? First, this is incredibly fun to do. You can dream up just about anything and Gemini will happily supply a design. The entire process took less than 20 minutes. Whether actual hardware designers will use this is a bit doubtful, since that field has a very specific process that involves user feedback, focus groups, exact specifications, and much more. For me, it is a fun exercise to envision a new design. Apple, you’ve been warned.
Full design specs and features
Here are the full specs and features for the initial mock-up:
1. Design & Dimensions (The “Thinner” Spec)
To beat the iPhone in thickness (approx. 7.8mm – 8.25mm depending on model), the Canvas Air utilizes a “teardrop” zero-gap hinge and the naturally thinner E-Ink display stack.
- Folded Thickness: 7.4mm (Creating a shockingly thin profile for a foldable, comfortably beating standard slab phones).
- Unfolded Thickness: 3.5mm (Ideally suited for holding like a few sheets of paper).
- Chassis Material: Recycled magnesium alloy (lighter and more rigid than aluminum at these thicknesses) with a ceramic-touch matte coating to prevent slippage.
- Weight: ~190g (Significantly lighter than most current foldables).
2. The Displays (Hybrid E-Ink System)
The device features two distinct displays optimized for different uses.
Inner “Fold-Out” Display (Primary):
- Type: 7.8-inch Flexible E-Ink Kaleido 3 (Color E-Paper).
- Features: Matte, paper-like texture for stylus writing; 300 PPI for crisp text; “ComfortLight” front-lighting (not backlighting) that adjusts from cool to warm white.
- Why E-Ink here? It allows the device to be incredibly thin unfolded as it requires no bulky cooling layers. It offers weeks of battery life if just reading, and zero eye strain for long documents.
Outer “Cover” Display (Secondary):
- Type: 3.5-inch OLED “Notification Ribbon.”
- Placement: A vertical strip along the right edge of the folded front cover.
- Purpose: Triage. It shows vivid colors for urgent notifications, caller ID, music controls, and essential quick-reply functions without needing to open the device. This keeps the rest of the front cover purely aesthetic (perhaps a textured fabric or vegan leather).
3. Key Features & User Experience
- “Focus Mode” OS: The operating system is a custom, stripped-down version of Android. By default, it is monochrome to encourage focus, but color can be toggled for viewing charts, comics, or highlighted documents on the inner E-Ink screen.
- The “Infinite” Battery: Because the main screen consumes power only when refreshing the page, standard use yields 4–5 days of battery life on a single charge, despite the thin chassis.
- Integrated Stylus: A magnetized, flat stylus snaps onto the spine. The E-Ink screen offers near-zero latency for note-taking, feeling exactly like pencil on paper.
- Haptic Spine: Since visual cues are slower on E-Ink, the spine of the phone has advanced haptics that can vibrate in different patterns to let you know what kind of notification you just received without looking.
4. Target Audience
Writers, academics, lawyers reviewing massive briefs, and digital minimalists who want connectivity without the addictive dopamine loops of bright, flashy OLED screens.
