Google has introduced Nano Banana 2 Lite, the latest version of its in-house AI image and video generation model, promising faster performance and significantly lower costs for developers and businesses.
According to Google, Nano Banana 2 Lite can generate images in as little as four seconds, offering much lower latency than previous versions. The company says the model is designed for high-volume workflows where users need to create and refine large numbers of images quickly. Pricing starts at $0.034 per 1,000 generated images, making it one of Google’s most affordable AI image generation models.
The new release builds on last year’s original Nano Banana, which was powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash, and follows the launch of Nano Banana 2 earlier this year. That version introduced improved image quality and more realistic results. Google also continues to offer Nano Banana Pro, a more advanced model aimed at users with demanding creative and commercial workloads.
While Google describes Nano Banana 2 as a general-purpose AI model, the new Lite version has been specifically optimized for speed and large-scale image production. The company says it is intended for developers and organizations that require rapid content generation without sacrificing efficiency.
The launch comes as AI-generated images continue to spark debate among artists and creators, with critics raising concerns about the growing amount of low-quality AI-generated content online. Despite the criticism, major technology companies continue to expand their investments in generative AI, particularly for advertising, marketing, and content creation.
Google recently strengthened its presence in the creative industry by signing a $75 million partnership with independent film studio A24, a move that has received mixed reactions from fans and members of the creative community.
Nano Banana 2 Lite is now available through Google AI Studio, the Gemini API, and Google’s Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. It also replaces the original Nano Banana, which Google now classifies as a legacy model.
Alongside the launch, Google announced the wider availability of Gemini Omni Flash, its AI video generation model first introduced at Google I/O earlier this year. The service costs $0.10 per second of generated video. Google also showcased Omni Product Studio, a new demonstration tool capable of turning AI-generated static images into cinematic-style e-commerce videos.
Google says the latest models are designed to help developers build complete multimedia workflows, combining rapid image generation with AI-powered video creation and editing.
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