A mysterious AI model called “nano-banana” is gaining attention online for its advanced image-editing skills, with many users suspecting Google may be behind it.
The model first appeared on LMArena, a benchmarking site where people compare AI tools. Testers praised its ability to create realistic images and make precise edits, though it sometimes made mistakes like other models. Business Insider, which tested it, said it was “pretty great at bringing prompts to life.”
Despite its popularity, no company has claimed ownership. Online speculation points to Google, which has previously used the term “nano” to describe smaller AI models that run on devices. The company has also been teasing image-related features in recent weeks.
Adding to the rumors, Logan Kilpatrick, Google’s head of product for AI Studio, recently posted only a banana emoji on X.
Naina Raisinghani, a Google DeepMind product manager, later shared an image referencing the famous banana artwork by Maurizio Cattelan. Both posts fueled suspicions but offered no confirmation.
Google has not commented on the matter, but many believe the company could reveal details during its Pixel event tonight.
