I used AI to create a deli meat-inspired watch face for my Pixel Watch 5 — and now I'm questioning everything

I recently experimented with a new feature on the latest Google Pixel Watch 5, which allows users to create customized watch faces using generative AI. This feature, powered by Google's Gemini, can generate watch faces based on voice or text prompts. The process is simple: open the "Create Watch Face" app, then tap "create your own" using either text input or voice transcription. A cellular connection or Wi-Fi is required to submit a prompt, and the process takes about ten to thirty seconds.

I tested the feature with various prompts, such as "Teddy bears and laser beams," "Raging river with jumping orange salmon," and "Deli meats." The results varied, with some watch faces appearing more appealing than others. The app provides six options after generating each prompt, and users can create additional versions or start over. However, the initial text input seems to heavily influence the watch face's design, prioritizing the first part of the prompt.

While the feature shows potential, the generated watch faces are entirely static and lack movement, which was a disappointment for me. Additionally, the watch faces can be generic or even unsettling, as in the case of my third prompt, "Deli meats," which resulted in the eye-catching watch face featured at the beginning of this article.

In my opinion, there are already numerous impressive free watch faces available on the Pixel Watch 5 that offer more features than those generated by the AI feature. However, for special occasions or unique requests, an AI watch face could be entertaining. Just be cautious with prompts like "teddy bears and laser beams," as they may not yield the desired outcome.