Nano Banana AI is a specialized, advanced image generation and editing model built for creative photo transformations, artistic renderings, and hyper-realistic 3D figurines.

While I find other models excel in specific areas like video or vector graphics, Nano Banana has proven incredibly useful for specific tasks like creating custom AI figurines, generating themed social media avatars, and even solving intricate image-blending problems that other tools struggled with. I’ve used it to generate marketing assets, work through aesthetic problems for personal projects, and even tackle artistic challenges where its precision and logical depth really shine

However, it lacks the broader capabilities and video integrations of tools like OpenAI’s Sora, so I see it more as a complementary option for specific needs rather than a full replacement for more expansive, multi-modal tasks.

Gemini Operators In September 2025, Gemini introduced "Operators," which can automatically generate images, create presentations, and even design websites based on a single prompt. Exclusive to Pro users ($200/month), they show exciting potential but are still in early stages.

For instance, I asked the Operator to "design a website for a new coffee brand." It started strong, generating a beautiful header and product shots, but eventually got stuck on creating a functional e-commerce backend. Designing a presentation was similar—it customized the slides but couldn’t generate a full, cohesive narrative. Generating product ads worked better; it created a series of beautiful, photorealistic images, but required me to finish the copywriting manually. Operators let you take control when they get stuck, but the laggy interface often makes doing it yourself easier.

Right now, Operators feel more like a proof-of-concept than a practical tool. While the idea of automating complex creative tasks is exciting, it needs improvements in speed and reliability. If you’re already a Pro user, it’s worth exploring, but not essential yet.

Pricing: Google offers a free tier, which currently gives you limited access to Nano Banana and unlimited access to the standard Gemini model. The Plus plan gets you wider access and costs $20/month—I think that's pretty good value for money. They also offer a Pro plan for $200/month, which gives you priority access to their latest tools.