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2d ago

Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ AI Image Craze Tops 500 Million as Safety Warnings Mount

Authorities urge caution after reports of uncanny personal details in outputs, with Google’s SynthID watermark still difficult for the public to verify.

Google Gemini Nano Banana: ‘Hug my younger self’ trend (L) and Pre-wedding trend (R).
Image
A Mumbai woman’s video featuring Google Gemini AI pictures of her domestic help in Dubai has won hearts.
What is Hug my younger self trend. Image Source: WhtRavish/ 333diti/ icanspeakcat/ X

Overview

  • Google says users have created more than 500 million Nano Banana images, with India among the top markets and the Gemini app hitting No. 1 on both major app stores.
  • The feature, built on Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, has fueled easy-to-replicate trends including 3D figurines, retro saree portraits, pre-wedding images, celebrity Polaroids, and “hug my younger self” edits.
  • Some users report AI-generated photos reflecting private details not visible in their uploads, such as moles or hidden tattoos, prompting questions about privacy and data use.
  • A senior police official, IPS officer VC Sajjanar, warned users to avoid look-alike websites and unauthorized apps that solicit photos, citing risks of fraud and data theft.
  • Google embeds invisible SynthID watermarks and metadata in Gemini outputs, but experts note detection tools are not widely available and watermarks can be removed or faked, so watermarking alone is not a safeguard.