When I completed my chapter on the future of data storytelling in January 2024, I explored how AI, synthetic data, augmented reality, and transmedia storytelling were beginning to reshape the field. Fast forward nearly two years, and that future has well and truly arrived.GenAI’s influence on data storytelling is no longer a prediction, it’s a daily reality. 

The explosion of generative tools has transformed AI from a simple time-saver into a genuine creative collaborator, capable of shaping narratives, refining visuals, and deepening audience engagement. In this post, Caroline Florence explores how generative AI is transforming data storytelling and highlights four tools to help you turn complex insights into stories that stick.

Today, GenAI adds measurable value by:

• Translating complex data into clear, relatable narratives for non-technical audiences

• Designing interactive, gamified experiences that make insights stick

• Synthesising multiple data sources into cohesive, interactive story experiences

• Crafting bespoke visuals and sharpening copy for maximum clarity and impact
  

To help you stay ahead of this evolution, Insight Narrator has teamed up with Inigo Antolin, a leading voice in GenAI and data storytelling, to develop an on-demand short course. In this post I’ll share highlights from the course, including four practical tools to elevate your own data stories.

4 AI tools to support your data storytelling

While ChatGPT and Copilot have become standard tools in the toolkit, there are a number of additional tools that can add value to your data storytelling. As with all tools, we caveat this post with the fact that they do not replace human interventions and creativity, and they need to be used responsibly in line with IT restrictions and principles of good data governance.

1. Google Notebook LM

Google’s Notebook LM acts as an AI research assistant that can ingest large volumes of material - datasets, reports, transcripts, and notes - and then synthesise and surface meaningful connections, summaries, and insights. For data storytellers, this means less time sifting through past presentations, secondary sources and data spreadsheets, and more time shaping narratives. You can use Notebook LM to identify emerging themes within your chosen data, generate tailored story outlines, or even script first drafts of your executive summary.
While many brands are starting to experiment with Notebook LM as an open source tool, such as this one by The Economist, they are private by default allowing you to set up as a closed group.

2. Story Builder GPT

Story Builder GPT transforms raw data into a story arc, suggesting compelling hooks, logical flow, emotional pacing, and calls to action. For data storytelling, it’s ideal for crafting scripts, developing scenario-based stories, or explainer narratives. By combining analytics with narrative structures, Story Builder GPT can help frame your data, highlight a key tension, develop a compelling structure, and draw out the emotion from the insights. Running a Story Builder GPT alongside your own analysis, interpretation and story building, can provide a useful point of comparison and counter perspective to stress test your final message.

3. Google Gemini Storybook

Google Gemini Storybook takes storytelling a step further by blending multimodal inputs, including text, images, charts, and even audio, into cohesive, visually engaging story outputs. Imagine uploading your dataset and instantly generating an interactive storybook that includes dynamic visuals, annotated insights, and voice narration. Ideal for creating short story teasers and engaging pre-read materials, Gemini Storybook bridges the gap between static dashboards and immersive, multimedia storytelling, allowing audiences to experience insights rather than just read them.

4. Claude Artifacts

Artifacts are live, shareable outputs that enable you to create interactive datasets, such as quizzes, or explorable charts. For ongoing trends or tracking data, you can upload a dataset, and Claude can produce interactive visuals that update and evolve over time. Instead of static reports, you can co-create interactive prototypes of your data story, complete with layout, visuals, and narrative flow.

Ready to experiment with Gen AI?

If you are looking for a course with shortcuts and ideas you’ll actually use, minus the fluff and AI soul searching, click here for more information on the short on-demand course. We are launching the course with a 25% discount that runs until 31st October. Use code STORY25 at the checkout for a single payment, lifetime access and with no subscription.