How we make SOOK

AI-forward.
Human-built.

We use AI to help with almost everything we make. We want you to know exactly where, so here it is in plain words.

AI concept render: SOOK on the Baltimore waterfront with four pilots and a cheering crowd. None of it has happened yet. AI concept rendernot a photo
This looks like a photo. It isn't. SOOK doesn't exist yet: this is an AI concept render of what we're building for May 1, 2027.

Who made what

Order #1 · made with AI

AI helps make

  • The pictures of SOOKGemini ("Nano Banana")Every picture of her so far is an AI concept render, made from our sketches and words. She looks real in them. She isn't built yet.
  • 3D models of the artMeshyTurning concept pictures into rough 3D shapes we can measure.
  • Her voice and the announcerElevenLabsSOOK talks with an AI voice, and so does the announcer. Nobody is pretending to be a real person.
  • Her songs and the albumElevenLabs Music"SOOK: True Colors" and every song she sings are AI music, written to our ideas and picked by us.
  • Talking SOOKElevenLabs + codeThe cartoon SOOK that talks on this site and in our videos: an AI voice, animated by code.
  • Engineering and softwareClaudeThe 3D model, the strength checks, a simulator of the whole course and the race-day show software.
  • A lot of the writingClaudeThis website, our build docs and the first drafts of our posts. A person reads and OKs every word.
  • The logosClaudeDrawn by code that Claude helped write, with our art lead's direction.

Order #2 · made by people

People make

  • The idea100% peopleA Halloween parade, a family, and "she'd love to be in a parade one day".
  • Every decision100% peopleWhat she looks like, how big, how safe, what we spend. AI suggests; people decide.
  • The art direction100% peopleMaria leads the art and the show: the look, the colours, the moves and the choreography.
  • The building100% peopleCutting, riveting, welding, foam, paint. Jimmy is chief builder; neighbours and kids pitch in.
  • The pedalling100% peopleFour people, about 15 miles, one harbour. No motors move her.
  • The people100% peopleThe crew, the families, the sponsors and the crowd. That part is all real.

Why

A small crew with a very big crab

We're a family and friends, building on weekends. A one-ton crab that swims usually takes a workshop full of engineers and artists. AI lets a few of us design her, test her 500 times in a computer and plan every part before we cut any metal.

It also lets us show you what she'll look like long before she exists. That's only fair if we tell you which pictures are made up. So we do, on every one.

What's real

SOOK herself, on May 1, 2027

She'll be real aluminium, foam and paint, pedalled by real people through Baltimore and into the harbour. When we start building, the real photos go up here, and each one gets its own tag:

Real photo

How to read our pictures

Look for the tag

  • AI concept rendernot a photoMade with an AI image tool. Not a photo.
  • 3D model rendercomputer modelA picture of our own 3D computer model. Not a photo either.
  • Screenshotour softwareA screenshot of our own software, like the course simulator.
  • Real photoA real camera, a real crab. Coming soon.

Logos and diagrams don't get a tag. On Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube we also switch on each app's own "AI" label, and every post says what in it is AI.

The tools, by name

ToolMade byWhat we use it for
ClaudeAnthropicEngineering, software, writing, the logo code
Gemini ("Nano Banana")GoogleConcept art
MeshyMeshy3D models from the concept art
ElevenLabsElevenLabsSOOK's voice ("Jade"), the announcer ("Lily") and the music

Questions, or spotted a picture without its tag? Tell us: [email protected].