# Nano Banana 2.1 In Google AI Mode In Search

> Source: <https://www.seroundtable.com/nano-banana-21-google-ai-mode-42246.html>
> Published: 2026-10-06 17:10:00+00:00

Google released Nano Banana 2.1 today, and it is already working within AI Mode in Google Search. Nano Banana 2.1 is Google's latest image generation and editing model.

Google [said](https://x.com/Google/status/2107501209154204148) Nano Banana 2.1 "outperforms our previous models across the board, with notable leaps in visual design, mask-based editing, and subject consistency to help you create more natural-looking images."

Robby Stein, Google's VP of Product in Search, added that Nano Banana 2.1 is already in AI Mode. He wrote on [X](https://x.com/rmstein/status/2107513543327412436), "Nano Banana 2.1 is rolling out in AI Mode in Search!" To use it, he said, just "open the Google app & tap the 🍌 icon under the Search box to get started creating."

Here is a screenshot of that button in the Google App:

Here is a screenshot of what happens when you tap the 🍌 icon:

Google first brought Nano Banana to Google Lens [a year ago](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-nano-banana-in-search-40267.html) then expanded access to [AI Mode](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-gemini-3-nano-banana-ai-mode-expand-40529.html) last December and in July brought it to [AI Overviews](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-overviews-ai-images-41680.html). I don't think AI Overviews use version 2.1 of Nano Banana yet but AI Mode does.

Nano Banana 2.1 is rolling out in AI Mode in Search!

Open the Google app & tap the 🍌 icon under the Search box to get started creating.

— Robby Stein (@rmstein)[October 6, 2026](https://x.com/rmstein/status/2107513543327412436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Forum discussion at  [X](https://x.com/rmstein/status/2107513543327412436).