Google’s viral, fruit-themed AI mannequin nano banana goes to be simpler to make use of than ever. The tech large announced on Thursday that it’ll be typically accessible — which means you should utilize it free of charge and thru Gemini — and it is including one among my most requested options, new default facet ratios. It is a important step ahead and brings its AI photo-editing talents to much more Gemini customers.
Google’s new AI picture mannequin is formally named Gemini 2.5 Flash Picture, nevertheless it received the nickname “nano banana” after a collection of fruit-themed teasers from its executives. Early reviewers thought its capabilities have been, properly, bananas. Since its launch, the nickname “nano banana” has caught. Here is why you may’ve been listening to a lot concerning the AI instrument.
Nano banana has taken off dramatically up to now few weeks, particularly in comparison with different AI picture instruments. Google reported that its customers made over 5 billion AI images, and the mannequin led to over 10 million new Gemini customers within the first few weeks after nano banana’s launch. It additionally helped launch Gemini to the top of the Apple App Retailer’s free app chart for some time. Though Google’s invested in integrating AI in all places, nano banana picture modifying appears to be making one of many greatest leaps for Google within the race to develop one of the best AI.
As CNET’s AI picture generator skilled, I put nano banana to the check to see if the mannequin held up or if it was all merely AI hype. I discovered Google’s nano banana spectacular, with its refreshing concentrate on modifying present pictures. There have been nonetheless some slipups, which is to be anticipated with any AI service. But it surely was spookily good at adding new elements to my existing photos. In the event you’re an AI fanatic, and even somebody who simply wants a fast, customized photograph edit, I do suppose it is price exploring.
To save lots of you time, this information is constructed on my actual expertise discovering and taking part in with the mannequin, together with some crowd-sourced ideas for one of the best outcomes. For extra, try our guides on creating AI images and writing the best AI image prompt.
The best way to entry Google’s nano banana
You possibly can entry nano banana in a few methods. Now you can use it instantly by means of Gemini, because of an October general release. You can too use it by means of Google’s AI Studio and choose 2.5 Flash Picture because the mannequin you need to use. Builders can even entry the mannequin by means of Vertex AI and the Gemini API. If you do not know what these are, you in all probability haven’t got entry to them. So don’t fret about it and keep on with the AI Studio, which is open to everybody.
You can too use nano banana by means of sure Adobe packages. Nano banana is offered as a third-party mannequin in Photoshop (for generative fill), Adobe Categorical and on its AI platform, Firefly. These packages are additionally normally paywalled, nevertheless it’s price checking to see when you have entry to them when you use some Adobe packages already. Be sure to choose 2.5 Flash Picture earlier than you click on generate, as Adobe has many third-party fashions accessible.
As all the time, an necessary notice about privateness: Google’s basic Gemini privacy policy says it could use the knowledge you add for enhancing its AI merchandise, which is why the corporate recommends avoiding importing delicate or personal data. And nano banana-edited pictures aren’t watermarked, so make sure to disclose that you just used AI when sharing these photographs.
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The best way to use Google’s nano banana and get essentially the most out of it
When you’re in Gemini or Google’s AI Studio, you possibly can simply add your picture for modifying. However like all AI picture instrument, your probabilities of success rely upon how properly you immediate the mannequin. Listed below are some ideas for utilizing nano banana.
- Be particular. Writing an AI immediate is completely different from doing a Google search. The extra particulars you present, the extra seemingly it’s you will get the end result you need. Speak concerning the colours, the type, the aesthetic. Key phrases are nice, however don’t fret about writing an excessive amount of.
- Inform it what you do not need modified. That is completely different from the recommendation I give when coping with AI picture turbines. Most AIs wrestle to know unfavorable prompts, or issues you do not need to see. However nano banana is respectable at understanding what you do and don’t desire adjusted, so embody that in your prompts.
- If you would like textual content, inform it precisely what phrases you need. I admit, that is partially impressed by Google’s personal best practices for prompting, nevertheless it’s additionally one thing I’ve seen in my very own testing. You might want to be particular if you need textual content; in any other case, it would find yourself messy. Remember to incorporate the color and style of the font, too.
An instance of how I edited an present photograph (left) with nano banana to incorporate a brand new factor — a spookily comparable wanting sister within the AI-edited photograph (proper).
Probably the greatest issues you should utilize nano banana for is including new parts to a picture you have already got. However there are another good use instances. Listed below are some concepts to assist spark your inspiration, primarily based on a few of my favourite prompts I take advantage of to check AI providers.
- Mess around with variations. You possibly can ask the mannequin to create completely different variations of your present photograph, whether or not that is a headshot with completely different hairstyles or remodel your photograph into a distinct type. I’ve taken nature landscapes I photographed and had AI reimagine them within the type of a darkish, sci-fi or fantasy world, for instance.
- Use nano banana as an AI-powered eraser. Eradicating background distractions is without doubt one of the commonest makes use of of photograph modifying software program. Any AI price its weight ought to give you the option that can assist you do away with errant obstructions and mix the affected space seamlessly into your photograph.
- Ask Gemini for inspiration or concepts if you’re caught. I all the time advocate speaking by means of photograph modifying initiatives with actual folks if you’re in a position. However if you’re not in a position to, you should utilize the chatbot as a sort of sounding board on your concepts. Gemini can even enable you to put your personal concepts into phrases that nano banana will have the ability to perceive.
For extra, try my full hands-on experience with Google’s nano banana and the best AI image generators.
