Harry Potter’s Tom Riddle diary comes to life using AI?:Canadian developer turns reMarkable tablet into an AI notebook using Anthropic’s Fable 5 model

One of the most memorable magical objects in the Harry Potter series is Tom Riddle’s diary, a notebook that could answer questions, hold conversations, and even make written words disappear. While the original diary was powered by dark magic, a developer has recreated a surprisingly similar experience using artificial intelligence.
By combining the reMarkable Paper Pro tablet with Anthropic’s AI model called ‘Fable 5,’ the project transforms the E-Ink device into an interactive notebook where handwritten notes vanish before an AI responds in elegant handwriting. The result is an experience that feels more like writing in a magical journal than chatting with a chatbot. How the AI-powered diary works The project was created by developer Maxime Rivest, who wanted AI conversations to feel more natural and immersive. Instead of typing into a chat window, users simply write their question on the reMarkable Paper Pro using the stylus. After a short pause, something unusual happens: the handwritten text slowly fades away, almost as if the page has absorbed the ink. A few moments later, the AI begins writing its reply directly on the screen. The response appears stroke by stroke in animated cursive handwriting, creating the illusion that someone is writing back in real time. After a while, the AI’s response also disappears, making the notebook ready for the next conversation.
What’s happening behind the scenes? Although it looks magical, the technology relies on AI and image recognition. Whenever a user writes on the page, the tablet captures an image of the handwriting and sends it to a vision-enabled large language model. The AI understands the handwritten text, generates a response, and sends it back to the tablet, where it is animated as handwritten text on the E-Ink display. The project supports several AI backends, including OpenAI-compatible APIs such as OpenAI, OpenRouter, and Groq, as well as compatible local AI servers. According to the developer, the first words of the response can begin appearing in about a second, even before the AI has finished generating the complete answer. Also read: Deadline to respond to WhatsApp-username dispute extended till July 9: Government stops Meta from rolling out new feature until review is complete

Not as easy to install as waving a magic wand While the finished experience looks seamless, setting it up requires technical knowledge. The project currently works only on the reMarkable Paper Pro. Users need to enable developer mode, gain SSH access to the tablet, install third-party launcher software, and make deep system-level modifications.
The software also runs with root privileges, meaning incorrect installation could affect the device. The developer has also warned that future software updates may break compatibility. Why does it remind fans of Harry Potter? The project has caught the attention of both Harry Potter fans and AI enthusiasts because it closely mirrors the fictional diary from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Just like the enchanted diary, users write a message on the page and receive a handwritten reply moments later. While there is no magic involved, the combination of disappearing ink, animated handwriting and AI conversation creates an experience that feels remarkably similar to the famous magical notebook. It also highlights how AI interfaces are evolving beyond chat windows, opening the door to more natural and creative ways of interacting with technology.