Google launches Nano Banana Pro, Powered by Gemini 3

Google is bolstering its AI image capabilities with the launch of Nano Banana Pro, the latest iteration of its image editing and generation tool. This move follows the recent unveiling of Gemini 3 Pro, Google’s cutting-edge AI model, and signals a continued push in the competitive generative AI landscape.

The release of Nano Banana Pro, built upon the foundation of Gemini 3 Pro, arrives on the heels of the groundbreaking AI model’s announcement earlier this week. Sources familiar with the matter said that excitement surrounding Gemini 3 Pro significantly impacted market sentiment, contributing to a 4% surge in Alphabet’s stock price on Thursday.

According to Josh Woodward, vice president of Google Labs and Gemini, the Pro version represents a significant leap forward from the original Nano Banana, introduced in late August. “Nano Banana Pro shines particularly with infographics,” Woodward told CNBC. “It can generate slide decks and maintain character consistency across up to 14 images or five different characters.” He further elaborated that internal tests involved using code snippets and even LinkedIn resumes as inputs to create compelling visual representations of complex data. This highlights the tool’s potential to transform previously non-visual data into easily digestible and engaging content.

“The ability to visualize information in unexpected ways is where the real magic lies,” Woodward explained, emphasizing the potential of the tool to cater to diverse content creation needs.

The initial Nano Banana gained traction on social media for allowing users to create hyperrealistic 3D figurines from photographs. According to an X post by Woodward back in September, this initial iteration fueled significant user growth, attracting 13 million new users to the Gemini app within four days, demonstrating the significant potential for virality within Google’s AI offerings.

Nano Banana Pro is now available within the Gemini app, albeit with limited free quotas. Wider access is extended to users of Google’s writing assistant, NotebookLM, and Google’s developer, enterprise, and advertising product suites. Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers will gain access through AI Mode in Google’s search features, further integrating the tool into the company’s core offerings. Access will be rolled out to Ultra subscribers of Flow, Google’s AI filmmaking tool, indicating future integration into video production workflows. This phased rollout could allow Google to carefully monitor the effects of wide adoption and improve based on user feedback.

In a move towards greater transparency, Google has also introduced a feature within the Gemini app that allows users to verify whether an image was generated by Google AI. This is a critical step towards addressing concerns about misinformation and the potential for misuse of AI-generated content. While images generated on free Nano Banana accounts will feature a watermark, Google AI Ultra subscribers will enjoy watermark-free generations, indicating a value-add in the premium tier.

Google’s aggressive advancement in generative AI comes amidst intensifying competition from OpenAI, whose ChatGPT garnered mainstream success starting in 2022. Last week, OpenAI updated its GPT-5 model, emphasizing “warmer” and more conversational AI interactions, along with streamlining ease of use.

Currently, ChatGPT leads the free app charts on Apple’s App Store, with Gemini following closely behind. These rankings highlight the ongoing battle for market share in the rapidly expanding AI application space. Google stated that the Gemini app has over 650 million monthly active users, while Gemini-powered AI Overviews boast 2 billion monthly users. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, shared in October that ChatGPT reached 800 million weekly active users. These figures suggest both a high level of engagement in the AI chatbot market, and a potential for further growth as the technology improves.

Woodward acknowledged the high demand for Google AI products, noting that many users subscribe to Gemini’s premium plan for “higher limits with some of these advanced models.” This suggests a future for tiered AI service offerings, with additional capabilities and benefits available based on user spending. “We’re seeing high numbers of people coming to lots of these products. That’s really the best problem to have, and we’re trying to figure out actually how to serve it,” he added.

Looking ahead, Google’s roadmap includes scaling its AI offerings, focusing on tools like Flow and Genie, a “world building” model currently available as a limited research preview. These projects highlight Google’s intent to explore the untapped potential of AI across industries, extending its reach both in the creative space and beyond.