Google is broadening access to its Nano Banana model, the image-editing engine first introduced in August as part of Gemini 2.5 Flash. The model has already powered more than 5 billion generated images in the Gemini app, and it’s now making its way into Google Search, NotebookLM, and, soon, Google Photos.
Smarter Visual Creation in Search
Nano Banana is being integrated directly into Google Search through Lens, giving users a faster, more creative way to interact with images. By opening Lens in the Google app on Android or iOS and selecting the new Create mode, users can snap a picture or upload one from their gallery and instantly transform it using AI. The feature makes it easier to reimagine photos on the spot, without needing to leave Search or jump between apps.
This update underscores Google’s ongoing effort to make generative tools feel like natural extensions of how people already browse and explore the web. It’s not about building entirely new habits, it’s about upgrading the ones users already have.
Visual Storytelling Gets a Boost in NotebookLM
Nano Banana is now running behind the scenes in NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research and writing assistant. Its presence is most visible in Video Overviews, which now include six new visual styles such as watercolor and anime. These stylistic choices can automatically illustrate summaries or insights derived from a user’s uploaded sources, bringing more personality and clarity to the information.
NotebookLM is also gaining a new feature called Brief, designed for those moments when users need quick insights rather than full-length overviews. It’s a small but thoughtful addition that reinforces Google’s push to make AI-generated content more adaptive and context-aware.
Coming Soon to Google Photos
The rollout doesn’t stop there. Google says Nano Banana will soon arrive in Google Photos, expanding the model’s creative editing features to one of its most-used apps. While details are still forthcoming, the company suggests users can expect the same kind of intelligent, visual-driven transformations that are already available in Gemini and Search.
Nano Banana’s growing footprint across Google’s ecosystem highlights a clear trend: AI is becoming less of a separate tool and more of an integrated creative layer across familiar apps.
