Google escalated the artificial intelligence arms race Thursday with the launch of Nano Banana Pro, a new image generation adn editing tool powered by its recently unveiled Gemini 3 Pro model [[1]], [[2]]. The release, which boosted Alphabet’s stock by 4%, highlights the rapid development in generative AI and the increasing capabilities of tools designed to transform text and data into compelling visuals [[3]]. Nano Banana Pro builds on the initial version’s viral success, adding features like infographic creation and enhanced image compositing, as Google continues to compete with OpenAI for dominance in the AI landscape.
Google on Thursday launched Nano Banana Pro, the latest iteration of its image editing and generation tool, building on the momentum of this week’s Gemini 3 model unveiling. The release underscores the rapid pace of innovation in generative AI, as companies race to deliver increasingly sophisticated creative tools.
The new product leverages Gemini 3 Pro and contributed to a 4% increase in Alphabet’s stock price on Thursday.
“Nano Banana Pro significantly expands on the capabilities of the initial version, which debuted in August,” said Josh Woodward, Vice President of Google Labs and Gemini.
The tool can now generate infographics and presentations, maintain visual consistency across up to five characters, and combine as many as 14 images into a single composition. Internal testers have used Nano Banana Pro to transform code, LinkedIn resumes, and complex text into visual representations.
The original version gained viral traction after users generated hyperrealistic 3D renderings from photos of themselves or their pets, attracting 13 million new users to the Gemini app in just four days, according to Woodward.
Google has also incorporated a feature allowing users to verify whether an image was created by Google AI. Images generated through free accounts will include a watermark, which is removed for Ultra subscribers.
Despite Google’s gains, ChatGPT remains the top free app in the App Store, followed by Gemini. Google reports its app has 650 million monthly active users, while its Gemini AI Overviews feature is used by 2 billion users each month.
The launch comes amid intensifying competition with OpenAI, which recently updated GPT-5 and announced plans for accelerated expansion of its AI ecosystem through projects like Flow and Genie, an experimental “world building” model. The update signals growing competition in the AI sector as companies vie for dominance in generative AI technologies.
