Engadget News + Next Google brings its Nano Banana image generator to Chrome
Jan 29, 2026
Chrome is getting an inline image maker called Nano Banana for creating and editing pictures right in the sidebar. Gemini AI expands to the sidebar for chat, multitasking, and pulling Gmail and Calendar info. A preview of an auto-browse feature shows automated planning, email searching, and shopping with user permissions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Gemini Becomes A Browser Companion
- Google integrated Gemini-powered tools directly into Chrome to make browsing more proactive and context-aware.
- The new sidebar lets Gemini maintain conversations across tabs and run image generation and edits without leaving a page.
Nano Banana Lives In The Sidebar
- Nano Banana image generation is now built into Chrome's sidebar so users don't need separate tabs or uploads to create or edit images.
- This reduces friction for quick image creation and in-context editing while browsing.
Personalization And Controlled Automation
- Personal Intelligence will let Chrome remember past Gemini conversations to personalize browsing in future releases.
- Auto-browse preview can perform multi-step tasks but stops for permission at sensitive points like logins and payments.