South Korea’s ‘Booxtory’ uses AI to let you digitize paper books in real-time for a truly immersive reading experience

As CES 2025 enters its third day, one of Asia’s standout edtech startups is grabbing attention with a fresh take on reading. South Korea’s Woongjin ThinkBig introduced “Booxtory” on Wednesday, an AI-powered platform that transforms how books are experienced.

“Booxtory” uses AI to digitize books in real time. Once a book is scanned, the platform analyzes its content and converts it into either an audio or standard reading format. It also offers real-time translation into multiple languages, adding a global edge. Ciara Lee reports.

“Through our application, it’s able to scan every kind of picture book and analyze it and detect its contents and make reading into an audio version or a regular normal reading version,” explained Rachell Son, a representative from Woongjin ThinkBig.

Booxtory: An AI-Powered Platform Revolutionizing Reading

Here’s how it works: Place a book under the sensor, and the AI immediately identifies the pages, reading them aloud. The platform also features Song Mode, where it generates a song based on the story, and Theatre Mode, which creates a cinematic storytelling experience.

The translation feature allows readers to explore books in different languages, making it a useful tool for language learners of all ages.

Woongjin ThinkBig, a leader in South Korea’s educational sector, designed Booxtory to make reading easier and more engaging for everyone. The platform caters to children, adults, and those who may find reading challenging. By digitizing books through a mobile device or tablet, Booxtory integrates personalized sound effects, visual enhancements, and even familiar voices to narrate stories. For those with reading difficulties, Easy Reading Mode offers extra support, ensuring books are more accessible.

Booxtory’s innovation earned it the CES 2025 Best of Innovation Award in the Artificial Intelligence category, a recognition of Woongjin ThinkBig’s efforts to merge technology with education in meaningful ways.

This isn’t Woongjin ThinkBig’s first foray into tech-driven education. The company previously launched ARpedia, an augmented reality reading tool, and has collaborated on data analytics platforms to deliver tailored learning experiences.

Booxtory’s goal is clear: make reading fun, immersive, and accessible to all. With features like real-time translation and storytelling modes, it’s setting a new benchmark in edtech. Whether it’s sparking a love for books in kids or helping adults explore new languages, Booxtory shows how AI can redefine the reading experience.