OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Images to Take On Google’s Viral Nano Banana

OpenAI on Tuesday announced the launch of ChatGPT Images, a dedicated image generation and editing tool built directly into the ChatGPT mobile app. With this move, OpenAI has clearly drawn inspiration from Google’s viral Nano Banana, a feature that earlier this year helped Gemini gain rapid mainstream traction.

The new tool introduces a specialised ‘images’ mode inside ChatGPT, allowing users to create, edit, and refine visuals more efficiently. OpenAI said ChatGPT Images will run on its latest foundational models, positioning the feature as a direct competitor to Google’s rapidly growing AI image ecosystem.

What Is ChatGPT Images?

ChatGPT Images is designed to simplify both image creation and image editing within the ChatGPT interface. According to OpenAI, the tool allows users to generate illustrations, edit existing visuals, and refine layouts without switching between multiple apps or platforms.

Dedicated ‘Images’ Mode Explained

The company said ChatGPT Images will function through a separate ‘images’ mode, enabling faster workflows and more precise control over prompts. In a press statement, OpenAI said the mode offers improved prompt accuracy and higher efficiency.

“Users can create new images while others are still rendering, making iterative tasks like updating visuals, refining layouts, or removing elements significantly more efficient,” the statement said.

This approach is aimed at designers, marketers, and content creators who often need to make multiple visual adjustments in quick succession.

How Nano Banana Changed the AI Image Landscape

The launch of ChatGPT Images comes just over three months after Google released Nano Banana, an AI image generation tool that quickly went viral.

Nano Banana’s Rapid Adoption

Within four days of launch, Nano Banana was adopted by 1.3 crore users, Google said on X (formerly Twitter). The feature played a major role in pushing Gemini into wider public use, particularly among creative professionals and casual users experimenting with AI-generated visuals.

Growing Market Impact

Market projections highlight how disruptive AI image tools are becoming. Stakeholders have said that nearly 80% jobs in creative design will be disrupted by tools such as Nano Banana.

Supporting this trend, a report by Grand View Research in August said AI image generators are projected to generate $61 billion in revenue by 2030, growing at 35% annually.

Why ChatGPT Images Matters for India

OpenAI highlighted India as a key market for image generation tools. According to the company, image creation is already one of the most popular use cases on ChatGPT in the country.

OpenAI said image generation is “one of the top 10 ways people in India are already using ChatGPT today”.

This insight suggests that ChatGPT Images could see rapid adoption among Indian creators, startups, and small businesses looking for cost-effective visual content solutions.

Key Competitors in the AI Image Generation Space

Adobe Firefly

One of the major competitors to both Nano Banana and ChatGPT Images is Adobe’s Firefly AI platform, which is deeply integrated into Adobe’s creative design tools.

Firefly stands out for its approach to copyright compliance. The platform uses only copyrighted content owned by Adobe, helping users avoid potential copyright claim issues. In March this year, Mint reported on Adobe’s corporate pivot to become an AI services company, a strategic move that predated Nano Banana’s rise.

Privacy, Copyright, and Open Questions

Concerns Around Nano Banana

Nano Banana has faced criticism over user privacy, particularly regarding the use of AI-generated images in commercial applications.

OpenAI’s Unanswered Questions

At present, it remains unclear whether ChatGPT Images will include similar safeguards against copyright claims. OpenAI also did not clarify whether the tool can be implemented locally by businesses on proprietary datasets, which is an increasingly important requirement for enterprise users.

Language Support and the Indic AI Race

Big Tech companies are also competing to strengthen Indic language support in AI applications.

Mint previously reported on the growing tussle to locally process Indic languages. Manish Gupta, senior director of Google DeepMind, said the company is adding native support for 29 Indic languages, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT currently supports 12 Indic languages.

OpenAI has not yet clarified whether ChatGPT Images will work only in English at launch or support other languages as well.

What Comes Next for AI Image Tools?

With ChatGPT Images entering the market, competition in AI-powered visual creation is set to intensify. As tools become faster, more precise, and easier to use, the debate around job disruption, copyright protection, and language accessibility is likely to grow sharper in the coming months.