Google's Gemini Chatbot Dominates App Stores with New Nano Banana Tool
Sangeeta Pandey | IIMC Dhenkanal | Sep 16, 2025, 18:52 IST
In a stunning turn of events, Google's Gemini app has skyrocketed to fame in India, dominating both the Apple and Google app stores. The surge in popularity follows the introduction of a groundbreaking feature called Nano Banana, which allows users to unleash their creativity by transforming photos in unique ways.
Google’s Gemini chatbot has seen an extraordinary rise, reaching the top position on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in India. This sudden success followed the launch of a new editing tool called Nano Banana, which spread rapidly on social platforms and drew millions of
Google’s Gemini chatbot has surged to the top spot on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in India, driven by the viral launch of its new editing tool Nano Banana. The feature spread quickly on social media, attracting millions of users.
According to 9 to5 Google, Gemini also became the most downloaded free app on iPhones in the U.S. and ranks second in Canada and the U.K., showing its global appeal.
The breakthrough came with Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, the official name for Nano Banana. In just one month, it transformed over half a billion photos, while between August 26 and September 9 alone, nearly 23 million new accounts were created.
This growth briefly pushed Gemini ahead of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in global rankings, echoing the earlier “Ghibli AI trend” sparked by ChatGPT’s image tools.
What Nano Banana Offers
Nano Banana lets users upload photos and instantly transform them into creative styles—cartoon versions, celebrity-inspired looks, and more. The free plan allows 100 edits daily, while paid tiers offer up to 1,000.
Developed by Google DeepMind, it delivers faster and more polished results than earlier tools. It’s available inside Google AI Studio and the Gemini app, where users simply upload a picture, add text, and get instant results.
The Bigger Picture
Gemini’s rapid climb highlights the fierce AI race. With Nano Banana fueling its rise, Google has emerged as a strong challenger to ChatGPT in the global market.
Google’s Gemini chatbot has surged to the top spot on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in India, driven by the viral launch of its new editing tool Nano Banana. The feature spread quickly on social media, attracting millions of users.
According to 9 to5 Google, Gemini also became the most downloaded free app on iPhones in the U.S. and ranks second in Canada and the U.K., showing its global appeal.
The breakthrough came with Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, the official name for Nano Banana. In just one month, it transformed over half a billion photos, while between August 26 and September 9 alone, nearly 23 million new accounts were created.
This growth briefly pushed Gemini ahead of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in global rankings, echoing the earlier “Ghibli AI trend” sparked by ChatGPT’s image tools.
What Nano Banana Offers
Nano Banana lets users upload photos and instantly transform them into creative styles—cartoon versions, celebrity-inspired looks, and more. The free plan allows 100 edits daily, while paid tiers offer up to 1,000.
Developed by Google DeepMind, it delivers faster and more polished results than earlier tools. It’s available inside Google AI Studio and the Gemini app, where users simply upload a picture, add text, and get instant results.
The Bigger Picture
Gemini’s rapid climb highlights the fierce AI race. With Nano Banana fueling its rise, Google has emerged as a strong challenger to ChatGPT in the global market.