In late July, the team was finalizing the launch of the Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model, focusing on bug fixes and evaluations. A key detail remained: a public codename for LMArena, designed for AI model assessments via anonymous pairwise comparisons. Users anonymously evaluate two model responses to determine the superior one, providing valuable feedback. As development models often enter LMArena for initial performance insights, a fitting codename became essential. Product Manager Naina Raisinghani, humorously drawing from her own nicknames, proposed “Nano Banana” at the last moment. This catchy name added a lighthearted element to the AI model, which was introduced in early August. Users were impressed with its advanced editing capabilities and responded positively to the quirky name, sparking viral conversations on social media. The combination of strong performance and a memorable moniker helped establish Nano Banana as a standout in the competitive AI landscape.
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