- Google Messages tests Nano Banana AI image generator
- Nano Banana will most likely create and edit images directly in chats.
- The app has a hidden banana icon that appears when you long press an image.
Google's Nano Banana AI Image Creator is on the path to the Messages app, according to the code (and the invisible banana button) found To Android Police. It looks like users will be able to edit and possibly create images using Nano Banana (part of Gemini 2.5 Flash) directly in the app's chats.
The banana icon that appears when you long press an image inside a message thread is currently greyed out. However, this will likely happen sooner rather than later as Google continues to expand Nano Banana's presence in its apps.
The AI image model is already implemented in NotebookLM and Search via Google Lens and plans Google Photos already announced. The messages may be next, and if the pattern continues, they will not be the last.
Nano Banana's role in Messages is still unclear, but what's notable is the placement of the inactive icon that appears in the toolbar after a long press on the image. Posting involves more emphasis on editing existing images rather than creating new ones based on written prompts. This could mean anything from filters and image cleansing to full memification, and it's all easily done with Nano Banana, presumably through quick queries or a menu of standardized options.
Imagine taking a blurry photo of your dinner, long pressing on it, tapping the banana icon, and asking for a “appetizing food blog style photo.” Or respond to a friend's awkward selfie with a version of a Tyrannosaurus rex photobombing him.
Memes messages
Google's interest in introducing Nano Banana and other artificial intelligence tools everywhere makes this particular move obvious. Google claims that Nano Banana has already been used to create more than five billion images. But so many people already use Google Messages that Nano Banana could become the most widely used artificial intelligence image processing tool in no time.
However, this does not mean there is no competition. Meta AI Advances Image Generation whatsapp and Messenger, while Apple has its own emoticons and image generation for iMessage. Even Snapchat has made AI image processing tools a centerpiece of its product.
It's unclear when Nano Banana will appear in Messages, but you can always try using the new Camera equipment supporting Nano Banana while you wait to click on that invisible banana.
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