Nano Banana, officially known as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) image generation and editing tool developed by Google DeepMind, a subsidiary of Google 1. Initially an internal codename during its secret public testing, "Nano Banana" quickly gained viral internet popularity upon its public release in August 2025 1. This sophisticated model operates within the realm of generative artificial intelligence, functioning as a text-to-image variant within the Gemini family of large language models 1. It is designed to serve a broad range of fields, including AI, software development, digital design, and creative technology .
The core functionality of Nano Banana revolves around its ability to generate and manipulate images through generative AI. Users can generate diverse images from simple text prompts and perform complex edits and refinements on existing visuals 2. A key mechanism distinguishing Nano Banana is its exceptional consistency in maintaining subject identity across various revisions and edits, even when transforming a person into an action figure 2. It also allows for the seamless blending of multiple images, such as combining a person with different outfits or settings 2. The model is particularly noted for its capacity to produce photorealistic "3D figurine" images, which significantly contributed to its viral success . Further features include the ability to change hairstyles and backdrops, perform multi-image fusion, leverage world knowledge for context-aware adjustments, and integrate SynthID watermarking for identifying AI-generated content . Unlike many other AI image generators, Nano Banana is built directly into the Gemini app and other Google AI services, eliminating the need for specialized software . Its training on a curated dataset of instructional materials, such as textbooks and diagrams, rather than unfiltered internet images, enhances its ability to understand instructional terminology and support multimodal inputs like sketches, screenshots, and brand assets 3. This foundation enables persistent visual identity, allowing users to lock characters, palettes, and layouts across sequences, and offers controlled variation of specific parameters for diverse applications 3.
Nano Banana Pro, an upgraded version released in November 2025 and powered by Gemini 3.0 Pro, further elevates these capabilities . This version introduces major advancements in image quality, resolution, and creative options, providing native 2K rendering and professional 4K upscaling, a significant leap from the original's 1K maximum 4. A notable enhancement is its advanced "reasoning core," which enables the model to handle complex, multi-step creative tasks and interpret context with greater sophistication 4. Improvements also include significantly better text rendering, accurately supporting multiple languages, and enhanced creative control for fine-tuning colors, lighting, and camera angles 4. Nano Banana Pro also boasts faster performance optimized for large outputs and improved consistency, capable of blending up to 14 images and maintaining the consistency of up to 5 individuals within a scene .
The practical utility of Nano Banana spans a wide array of applications across various industries. It is extensively used in marketing, education, and various professional and casual creative endeavors . Its capabilities are highly valued in digital design for creating unique visuals and in software development for generating assets. Education benefits from its ability to create instructional diagrams and learning materials 3. For developers, Nano Banana Pro is accessible via the Gemini API or Vertex AI, and it is integrated into key Google Workspace applications like Slides, Vids, and NotebookLM, as well as third-party creative tools such as Adobe Firefly and Photoshop . These integrations underscore its role as a versatile and indispensable tool in the evolving landscape of AI-powered content creation.