Google Images is marking its 25th anniversary with the launch of two new features on the service: a "browseable" home page and integration with Google Search's AI image generator.
The image search tool was first launched in 2001, reportedly in response to users looking for a specific image. Over the past two and a half decades, the internet has undergone significant changes, but Google Images has remained a reliable means of finding specific images across the web.
The new "browseable" home page for Google Images features a dynamic, immersive gallery pulled from pictures across the internet. The images in the gallery are based on the user's interests and can be added to a "collection" for later use.
Google's aim with the new feature seems to be making Images a more visual and interactive experience, similar to Pinterest. The company has provided examples of collections, including "Travel," "Reading nook," "Supper party inspo," and "Outfits for vacation."
The feature is not yet available, but it will be rolled out in a few weeks on desktop and in English, initially.
Google Search is now also an AI image generator, thanks to the company's Nano Banana model. This integration allows users to enter text-based prompts into Google Images, and the site will use Nano Banana to generate the requested image.
The AI image generator is not a new feature for Google Images itself, but rather a new integration with Google Search. Users can still search for images on the web, but they can also use the AI image generator to create hyperrealistic images with AI.
