TLDR: Google has significantly expanded the reach of its viral AI image editing and generation tool, ‘Nano Banana’ (formally Gemini 2.5 Flash Image), integrating it directly into Google Search via AI Mode and enhancing NotebookLM’s video overview capabilities. This expansion allows users to create and edit images directly within search results and customize AI-generated video summaries with new visual styles, building on its success in the Gemini app and Pixel devices.
Google is rolling out its highly popular AI-powered image editing and generation tool, ‘Nano Banana,’ across its ecosystem, bringing advanced visual capabilities to Google Search and its AI notetaking assistant, NotebookLM. Formally known as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, ‘Nano Banana’ earned its playful moniker from a series of fruit-themed teasers by Google executives and has quickly become a sensation since its initial release.
Starting this week, Google announced that ‘Nano Banana’ will be directly accessible within Google Search through Google Lens or a dedicated ‘AI Mode.’ This integration empowers users to generate and modify images with just a few taps, streamlining the creative process directly within their search experience. Users can access this new functionality from the Google homepage, by navigating to google.com/aimode, or through the Google app on their mobile devices.
Beyond search, ‘Nano Banana’ is also being woven into NotebookLM, Google’s AI-driven notetaking and research assistant. This update introduces a suite of new visual styles for NotebookLM’s ‘Video Overviews,’ including Classic, Whiteboard, Watercolor, Retro print, Heritage, Paper craft, and Anime. Additionally, a new ‘Brief’ video format has been added, allowing users to choose between concise summaries or the existing in-depth ‘Explainer’ format. These new customization options for Video Overviews are rolling out to Google AI Pro subscribers this week, with a broader release planned for free users in the coming weeks.
‘Nano Banana’ has already demonstrated immense popularity, with Google reporting over 5 billion AI images created and attracting more than 10 million new Gemini users within weeks of its launch. Its success even propelled the Gemini app to the top of the Apple App Store’s free app chart, marking it as a significant leap for Google in the competitive AI landscape.
The tool’s capabilities extend beyond simple image generation. It excels at editing existing photos, enabling users to add new elements, combine multiple images for a perfect shot (e.g., eliminating closed eyes or unwanted additions), and apply various artistic styles. A particularly viral feature allows users to transform 2D photos into stylized 3D figurines, such as collectible vinyl figures or resin statues, through intuitive prompts within the Gemini interface.
‘Nano Banana’ became generally available for free through Gemini in October and can also be accessed by developers via Google AI Studio, Vertex AI, and the Gemini API, as well as through certain Adobe programs. Furthermore, the AI image-generation and editing tool is a core feature within the Gemini app on Google’s latest Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro smartphones, leveraging the powerful Tensor G5 chip for enhanced on-device AI performance.
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This widespread integration underscores Google’s commitment to embedding advanced AI capabilities across its product suite, making sophisticated image manipulation and content creation more accessible to a broader audience.
