Google has expanded its generative AI lineup with the release of Nano Banana Pro, a new image generation and editing tool powered by the recently announced Gemini 3 Pro. The rollout comes just days after the launch of Google’s newest Gemini model, which contributed to record stock market performance for Alphabet. The company reported a 4% increase in its stock price on Thursday, underscoring strong investor confidence in Google’s broader AI strategy.
Josh Woodward, vice president of Google Labs and Gemini, described the upgraded version as a major expansion of the original Nano Banana tool introduced in late August. In an interview with CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa, he explained that Nano Banana Pro supports more advanced capabilities, including generating slide decks, producing infographics, and maintaining consistent visual characters across images.
According to Woodward, the system can process up to 14 images or five characters at once while keeping character identity consistent. Internal testers have experimented with uploading code snippets and even LinkedIn resumes to transform raw information into visual formats. He emphasized that users are discovering “the ability to visualize things that were previously maybe not something you would think of as a visual medium,” highlighting the tool’s creative flexibility.
Expanded Capabilities and Growing User Adoption
The original Nano Banana went viral on social media for turning images of people and pets into hyperrealistic 3D-style figurines. Woodward noted in a September post on X that the product drove 13 million new users to the Gemini app in just four days. With Nano Banana Pro now available, Google aims to build on that momentum by integrating the tool across more of its AI ecosystem.
Nano Banana Pro is currently accessible through the Gemini app with limited free quotas, as well as Google’s writing assistant NotebookLM, and a range of developer, enterprise, and advertising products. Users subscribed to Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra plans can also use the tool inside the company’s search “AI Mode.”
Google confirmed that the feature will expand further, rolling out first to Ultra users inside Flow, the company’s AI-powered filmmaking platform. Flow and Google’s experimental “world building” model Genie are part of a broader effort to scale the company’s creative AI offerings.
Alongside Nano Banana Pro, Google introduced a new feature within the Gemini app that allows users to upload any image to determine whether it was generated by Google AI. The company also clarified that images generated through free Nano Banana accounts will include a watermark, while Google AI Ultra subscribers can generate watermark-free images.
Competitive Pressure in the Generative AI Market
Google continues to face intense competition from OpenAI, particularly after the release of ChatGPT in 2022 accelerated the race for consumer-facing generative AI tools. Last week, OpenAI announced two updates to its GPT-5 model designed to make interactions “warmer by default and more conversational,” while also improving efficiency and everyday usability.
ChatGPT currently ranks as the number one free app in Apple’s App Store, with Gemini holding the second position. Google reported that the Gemini app has surpassed 650 million monthly active users, and that Gemini-powered AI Overviews now reaches 2 billion monthly users. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in October that ChatGPT had reached 800 million weekly active users.
Woodward said demand for Google AI products continues to accelerate, with many users opting for Gemini’s subscription tier to unlock higher usage limits and access to more advanced models. “There’s a lot of demand, and we’re trying to figure out actually how to serve it,” he said, describing the surge as “the best problem to have.”
As Google pushes forward, the company is focusing on scaling products like Flow and Genie, positioning them as part of the next wave of generative AI tools for visual creation, filmmaking, and interactive content generation. With Nano Banana Pro now fully integrated into its ecosystem, Google aims to strengthen its position in a market that continues to evolve rapidly with new models, features, and user expectations.
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