Google introduces a faster, cheaper image generator with Nano Banana 2 Lite

Google on Tuesday released Nano Banana 2 Lite, the newest version of its in-house AI video and image generator. This version is significantly faster and more affordable than its previous release, the company claims. The model has much lower latency and can produce images in four seconds, which makes it a good option if you need to workshop images and produce a large number of them in quick succession, Google says. It costs $0.034 per 1,000 images, which makes it quite affordable for people looking to draft and perfect their content at scale. Image Credits: Google The release follows last summer’s launch of the original Nano Banana, powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash, and the February release of Nano Banana 2 . The latter introduced new powers for the generator, including the ability to create more realistic images. The company also offers Nano Banana Pro, which is described as a more powerful (and more expensive) model for advanced use cases. While Nano Banana 2 is referred to as a “generalist workhorse,” Banana 2 Lite is optimized for high-volume workflows that need to occur at a rapid pace, Google claims. Image Credits: Google Despite consumer backlash over so-called AI slop created by image models, companies continue to invest heavily in AI tools that can generate imagery and videos. However, Google often markets its models as convenient tools that can assist with the creation of advertisements. …