Google Tests Nano Banana AI Image Tool Inside Messages
Key Points
- Google has placed a hidden banana‑shaped icon in Messages when an image is long‑pressed.
- The icon is linked to Nano Banana, Google’s AI image generator built on Gemini 2.5 Flash.
- Nano Banana is already active in NotebookLM, Google Lens, and will appear in Google Photos.
- Google says Nano Banana has generated more than five billion images to date.
- Potential functions include editing photos, applying filters, and creating meme‑style images.
- Competitors like Meta AI, Apple, and Snapchat are also adding AI image tools to their messengers.
- The integration could make Nano Banana the most widely used AI image tool due to the large Messages user base.
Google is experimenting with its Nano Banana AI image generator inside the Messages app. A hidden banana icon appears when users long‑press an image, suggesting future editing or creation capabilities. The feature, part of Gemini 2.5 Flash, has already rolled out to NotebookLM and Google Lens, with plans for Photos. Competitors such as Meta AI, Apple, and Snapchat are also adding AI image tools to their messaging platforms.
Background
Google’s Nano Banana AI image generator, built on the Gemini 2.5 Flash model, is being tested for integration into the Google Messages app. The test was discovered when a banana‑shaped icon appeared in the toolbar after a user long‑pressed an image within a chat thread. Although the icon is currently dormant, its presence indicates that Google intends to bring Nano Banana’s capabilities directly to messaging.
Potential Features
The placement of the icon suggests a focus on editing existing images rather than generating new ones from a text prompt. Possible functions could include applying filters, cleaning up photos, or adding meme‑style elements. For example, a user might long‑press a blurry dinner photo and ask Nano Banana to produce a “mouth‑watering food‑blog‑style shot,” or they could request a whimsical “Tyrannosaurus Rex photo‑bomb” on a selfie.
Rollout History
Nano Banana has already been deployed in Google NotebookLM and Google Lens, and Google has announced upcoming integration with Google Photos. The company claims that Nano Banana has been used to create more than five billion images, highlighting its extensive usage across Google services.
Competitive Landscape
Google is not the only messenger platform adding AI image tools. Meta AI is working on similar capabilities for WhatsApp and Messenger. Apple has introduced custom emoji and image generation for iMessage, while Snapchat has placed AI image tools at the core of its product offering. The addition of Nano Banana to Messages could make it one of the most widely used AI image generators, given the large user base of Google Messages.
Future Outlook
While the exact timeline for activating the Nano Banana icon in Messages remains unclear, the discovery indicates that Google is continuing its strategy of embedding AI tools across its ecosystem. Users eager to experiment with AI‑enhanced images can already try Nano Banana‑enabled features in other Google products while awaiting the messaging integration.