Technology 9/17: Google Gemini surpasses ChatGPT thanks to Nano Banana photo editing feature

Google Gemini surpasses ChatGPT in app rankings thanks to Nano Banana

In September 2025, Google Gemini surpassed ChatGPT to become the most popular free iPhone app in the US and UK. This success comes from a new feature called “Nano Banana” – an AI image editing tool that was launched at the end of August.

An image created using Google Gemini's Nano Banana in response to the request:

An image created using Google Gemini's Nano Banana in response to the request: "Change this person's outfit to one made of tennis balls." (Source: Google Gemini)

Nano Banana is a new version of the Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model, allowing users to:

Combine multiple images into one
Keep character traits intact through multiple edits
Transform details in natural language
Leveraging world knowledge to create vivid images

In just two weeks, users have created over 500 million images using the tool.

Since launching Nano Banana, Gemini has attracted more than 23 million new users. Many user-generated images have gone viral on platforms like X (Twitter) and Reddit.

To prevent the spread of misinformation, Google has integrated a visible watermark in the bottom corner of each image, along with a hidden watermark that can be tracked online. This is a response to the rise of AI-generated fake content in recent years.

“The Nano Banana is incredibly impressive, especially the ability to edit existing photos instead of just creating new ones from scratch,” says photographer Thomas Smith.

Meta Unveils New Smart Glasses at Connect Event

At its annual Connect event, Meta is expected to announce its first consumer smart glasses with a built-in display. The device, internally codenamed “Hypernova,” will be launched as “Celeste.” The expected retail price is around $800.

The Celeste glasses will have a small digital screen located on the right lens, used to display basic notifications. However, this product is said to be less advanced than the “Orion” prototype that Meta previously introduced.

People walk behind the logo of Meta Platforms, a company, during a conference in Mumbai, India. (Source: Reuters)

With a price tag much higher than the Ray-Ban ($299) and Oakley ($399), experts say the Celeste will have a hard time reaching the mass market. It is predicted that only a few hundred thousand units will be sold, mainly to attract app developers.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has invested more than $60 billion in augmented reality since 2020. He believes smart glasses will be the key vehicle for integrating “superintelligence” – the concept of AI surpassing human intelligence – into everyday life.

Parents of AI chatbot suicide victims testify before US Congress

Two parents – Matthew Raine and Megan Garcia – will testify before the US Senate about the risks of AI chatbots after their son committed suicide. They allege that chatbots played a role in promoting their son’s risky behavior.

Raine’s family sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming ChatGPT “coached” their son to plan his suicide. Meanwhile, Ms. Garcia sued Character Technologies, saying her son was drawn into sexualized conversations with the chatbot, leading to isolation and death.

Ms. Megan Garcia with her son. (Source: AP)

Just before the hearing, OpenAI announced it would roll out new protections for younger users, including: Detecting users under 18 and allowing parents to set “off times” to prevent children from using ChatGPT at certain times

Advocacy groups like Fairplay say OpenAI’s pledges are insufficient, criticizing tech companies for making “big” announcements ahead of hearings to minimize media damage.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened an investigation into several AI companies – including OpenAI, Meta, Google, Snap, Character, and xAI – about the impact of chatbots on children and teens.

Minh Hoan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cong-nghe-17-9-google-gemini-vuot-chatgpt-nho-tinh-nang-chinh-anh-nano-banana-ar965812.html