Google Launches Nano Banana 2 Following Viral AI Image Tool Success

Google has released a successor to its widely recognised Nano Banana image generation tool. The new model, named Nano Banana 2, offers improved performance and aims to attract additional users to the company's artificial intelligence products. This development follows a period of significant growth for Google's artificial intelligence offerings, positioning the technology company more strongly within the competitive sector.

AI Generated Image by Google's Nano Banana 2

The Alphabet owned company stated that Nano Banana 2 is being incorporated across several of its key products and platforms. These include the Gemini application, the AI Mode and Lens features found on Google Search, and Flow, the company's dedicated video tool powered by artificial intelligence. This broad integration reflects Google's strategy to embed its latest AI capabilities across its user facing services.

The original Nano Banana artificial intelligence image editor, launched some months prior, rapidly gained considerable attention and demonstrated significant user appeal. It brought 13 million first time users to the Gemini application in a mere four days following its Sept. introduction. And by the middle of Oct., this tool had generated over 5 billion images, a remarkable volume, according to Reuters. The prior success provides context for the current release.

This demonstrated user interest and product uptake has contributed to a notable increase in the company's financial standing. Google's stock saw a substantial 47 per cent rise over the preceding six months, indicating investor confidence in its evolving artificial intelligence strategy. This period has seen Google move to a more prominent position in the artificial intelligence domain, following earlier challenges.

Nano Banana 2 draws upon Gemini's more efficient and cost effective models, known as Flash. This particular design choice enables quicker image creation and modification processes for users. The organisation also reports that the new model demonstrates superior instruction following capabilities and consistently delivers images with enhanced detail, providing a more refined output compared to its predecessor.

The launch of Nano Banana 2 is the latest in a series of strategic moves that have propelled Google into a leading position within the artificial intelligence market, as reported by Reuters. This progress allows the company to compete more effectively with OpenAI's ChatGPT. But this improved competitive stance follows an initial series of issues and setbacks for the large search engine company, which required a concerted effort to overcome.

The organisation followed the initial viral Nano Banana release with an upgraded version, Nano Banana Pro, introduced in Nov. This iterative development underscores a consistent push to enhance its artificial intelligence image generation offerings, building upon previous successes and user feedback to refine its tools.

Google also unveiled its Gemini 3 artificial intelligence model some time ago, another significant offering in its AI portfolio. This model's success led rival OpenAI to reportedly declare an internal "code red," prompting its teams to accelerate their own development efforts in response to the competitive pressure, according to information from Reuters. The reaction from competitors highlights the impact of Google's advancements.

The Gemini 3 model has notably boosted user engagement across Google's platforms. It helped the Gemini application accrue more than 750 million monthly active users by the conclusion of Dec., a substantial figure. So, Google's array of artificial intelligence tools, encompassing both image generation and broader AI models, is currently seeing widespread adoption and consistent use across a large global user base.

• Google has launched Nano Banana 2, an updated version of its image generation tool.

• The new model integrates into Google's Gemini app, AI Mode, Lens, and Flow products.

• The original Nano Banana tool attracted 13 million first time users and generated over 5 billion images.

• Google's stock rose 47 per cent in the past six months, coinciding with its AI product advancements.

• The success of Google's Gemini 3 model prompted an internal "code red" response from rival OpenAI.

  
  

Source: Reuters

Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26, Raises Prices Amid Soaring Chip Costs

Samsung Electronics has launched its flagship Galaxy S26 smartphones, increasing prices for some models in the United States and South Korea. This strategic move tests demand amidst pressure on margins from soaring memory chip costs.

Credit: SAMSUNG

The new series integrates Perplexity’s artificial intelligence (AI) features, along with Google’s Gemini and an upgraded Bixby. This rollout follows Samsung’s loss of smartphone leadership to Apple last year, which benefited from strong iPhone demand in China and India.

Credit: SAMSUNG

The company priced the base Galaxy S26 model at USD 899 in the United States, an increase of 4.7% from the previous model. The S26 Plus is priced at USD 1,099, marking a 10% rise, while prices for the S26 Ultra remain unchanged.

In South Korea, the base model’s price was raised by 8.6%. Samsung also equipped some S26 models with in-house Exynos processors, a departure from using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips for the S25 series.

Analysts suggest this shift could support Samsung’s chip design business and mobile margins. The S26 Ultra includes what the company calls the industry's first built-in mobile privacy display, which limits side viewing angles.

The company last month warned of a worsening chip shortage, driven by the AI boom. Strong memory demand supports its core chip business but has pressured smartphone and display units.

A global push by firms such as Meta, Google, and Microsoft to build AI infrastructure has absorbed much of the memory supply. This increased demand has lifted prices as chipmakers prioritise higher-margin data centre components, such as high-bandwidth memory chips, over consumer devices.

Market tracker TrendForce expected conventional dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) contract prices to surge by 90% to 95% in the January to March period of this year, compared to the final three months of 2025. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook noted in a Jan. post-earnings conference call that he expected memory chip prices to increase sharply, but declined to answer analysts' questions about whether Apple would raise prices in response.

Samsung announced it will begin rolling out the S26 series March 11.

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• Samsung Electronics has launched its new Galaxy S26 smartphone series.

• Prices for some Galaxy S26 models have increased in the United States and South Korea due to rising memory chip costs.

• The S26 series features Perplexity AI, Google Gemini, an upgraded Bixby, and in-house Exynos processors in some models.

Source: REUTERS

OpenAI Bans Accounts Tied to Scams, Influence Operations

OpenAI announced it has banned accounts linked to Chinese law enforcement, romance scammers, and influence operations, including a smear campaign against Japan's first woman prime minister. The company's report detailed the misuse of its ChatGPT technology.

Credit: OpenAI

Several banned accounts used the chatbot alongside other tools, such as social media, to conduct cybercrimes. These entities posed as various organisations, including a dating agency, law firms, and U.S. officials.

OpenAI banned a ChatGPT account associated with an individual linked to Chinese law enforcement. This account was involved in orchestrating a covert influence operation targeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

A small set of accounts, likely originating in China, used OpenAI's models to request information about U.S. persons, online forums, and federal building locations. These accounts also sought guidance on face-swapping software.

The same accounts generated English-language emails to state-level U.S. officials or policy analysts working in business and finance. These emails invited targets to participate in paid consultations.

A cluster of ChatGPT accounts used the chatbot to run a dating scam targeting Indonesian men and likely defrauded hundreds of victims a month, according to OpenAI. OpenAI said the scam used ChatGPT to generate promotional text and ads for a fake dating service.

The scam lured users to join the platform and pressured targets to complete several tasks requiring large payments.

Several accounts used OpenAI's models to pose as law firms and impersonate real attorneys and U.S. law enforcement. These impersonations specifically targeted fraud victims, OpenAI said.

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• OpenAI banned accounts misusing its ChatGPT technology.

• Banned accounts were linked to Chinese law enforcement, romance scammers, and influence operations.

• Influence operations included a campaign targeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Source: REUTERS