Google Lets Users Generate Images In AI Overviews

Google is bringing two new visual search features to Search as Google Images turns 25. The company has announced a redesigned Google Images homepage and AI image generation in AI Overviews, enabling users to discover and create visual content without leaving Search.

In a company blog post, Brad Kellet, Senior Engineering Director for Search, said both updates will begin rolling out over the coming weeks. The redesigned Google Images homepage will first launch on desktop in the U.S. in English, while AI image generation in AI Overviews will become available in English across regions that already support image creation in AI Mode.

Google Brings AI Image Generation Into Search

Google is adding AI image generation directly to AI Overviews in Search. Users can type a text prompt and generate a new image without leaving the Search results page.

The feature is powered by Google's latest Nano Banana image generation model. The company has been expanding the model across Search and other products. According to Google, Nano Banana creates a new image from a text prompt, which means users can generate visuals that do not already exist on the web.

For example, someone planning a marketing campaign could describe a specific scene, product concept, or creative style and receive a newly generated image directly inside Search.

The rollout will begin over the coming weeks for English-speaking users in regions where AI Mode already supports image creation.

Google Images Gets A Redesigned Homepage

Google is also introducing a new homepage for Google Images that replaces the traditional search-first experience with a browsable gallery of images from across the web.

The gallery updates in real time and is tailored to a signed-in user's interests. As people browse and save images, Google organizes those interests into tabs above the gallery, allowing users to return to topics they have previously explored. Users will need to sign in with a Google Account to access the personalized experience.

The update changes the way users discover visual content. Instead of starting every session with a search query, users can browse image collections that Google says are based on their interests before searching further.

Google Continues To Expand Visual Search Capabilities

The company introduced the new features as part of the 25th anniversary of Google Images, which launched in 2001. Since its launch, Google has expanded visual search with features that let users search using images.

That progression included Similar Images in 2009, Search by Image in 2011, Google Lens in 2018, and Multisearch in Lens in 2022, which combined text and image queries in the same search.

More recently, Google has focused on multimodal AI experiences. Circle to Search lets Android users search objects directly from their phone screen without switching apps. AI Mode combines Google Lens with AI reasoning, so users can ask more detailed questions about photos. Search Live adds live camera input and voice conversations. Google extended this feature globally in March. Visual Results in AI Mode also display image-based shopping and inspiration grids.

The company also recently introduced new capabilities, including multi-object recognition in Circle to Search and an Intelligent Search Box that accepts one or more uploaded images alongside detailed questions.

The latest announcement continues Google's effort to bring AI features directly into Search instead of requiring users to switch to separate AI tools.

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