Google launches its fastest, cheapest image model yet

Google is expanding Personal Intelligence features in the Gemini app, allowing it to draw on data from Gmail, Google Photos, YouTube, and Search to generate images and content that feel more relevant to individual users. The expansion brings these personalized capabilities to a broader audience, with user permission as a prerequisite. It marks a notable step in Google's effort to make generative AI outputs feel less generic and more grounded in a person's actual context.

Google has released Nano Banana 2 Lite, a lighter version of its Nano Banana 2 image generation model designed to prioritize speed and cost over maximum output quality. Images can be produced in just a few seconds, making it one of the faster options in Google's generative image lineup. The trade-off is a noticeable step down in visual fidelity compared to the full model.

Google's NotebookLM is gaining a short-video format that distills uploaded research into 60-second vertical clips, styled after the kind of content common on TikTok. The feature is rolling out to AI Ultra and Pro subscribers and pairs AI-generated narration with paper cutout-style visuals. It joins an existing set of NotebookLM output formats that already includes AI podcasts, cinematic videos, and visual explainers.