Key Points
- Google launches Nano Banana Pro, an AI image generator powered by Gemini.
- The tool produces more realistic images with better understanding of detail and language.
- All generated images include an invisible SynthID watermark for detection.
- Additional C2PA metadata is added to further label AI‑created content.
- The Gemini app can verify whether an image was produced by Google’s AI.
- AI Ultra subscribers receive the highest usage limits and have visible watermarks removed.
- Gemini Pro and free users have lower usage limits, with free tier eventually shifting to a non‑pro version.
- Google’s approach balances advanced creative capabilities with transparency and detection tools.
Enhanced Image Generation with Gemini Power
Google introduced Nano Banana Pro, an AI‑driven image generation tool that leverages the capabilities of its Gemini model. Compared with earlier AI image systems, Nano Banana Pro demonstrates a stronger grasp of real‑world details and nuanced language, resulting in pictures that appear more lifelike and harder to distinguish from photographs.
Built‑In Watermarking for Transparency
Every image created with Nano Banana Pro carries an embedded SynthID watermark. This invisible tag can be recognized by Google’s detection tools, providing a method to trace the origin of AI‑generated content. In addition, Google is incorporating more C2PA metadata into these images, further labeling them as AI‑produced and supporting broader industry standards for content provenance.
Gemini App Offers On‑Demand Detection
The Gemini app now allows users to upload an image and ask whether it was generated by Google’s AI. The app checks for the SynthID watermark and confirms if the picture originates from Google’s technology, offering a straightforward way for creators and consumers to verify authenticity.
Tiered Access and Watermark Visibility
Google’s service structure includes different tiers. AI Ultra subscribers receive the highest usage limits and benefit from the removal of a visible watermark that previously appeared in the corner of images. Despite the visual change, the underlying SynthID remains present for detection. Gemini Pro users and free users receive proportionally lower usage limits, with the free tier eventually transitioning to a non‑pro version after reaching its limits.
Balancing Creativity and Accountability
By delivering higher‑quality image generation while embedding robust detection mechanisms, Google aims to support professionals who need advanced creative tools and simultaneously address concerns about the spread of AI‑generated media. The combination of realistic output, invisible watermarks, and on‑demand verification positions Nano Banana Pro as a comprehensive solution for both creation and accountability in the evolving AI image landscape.
Source: arstechnica.com