Google has retracted an artificial intelligence image generation feature from its Google Earth platform one day after its introduction. The tool, which utilized Google's Nano Banana 2 AI model, allowed users to create photorealistic images based on satellite, aerial, and 3D map data by inputting text prompts. The company cited concerns over users generating imagery that appeared to violate its policies as the reason for the rollback.
The feature, launched on July 30, 2026, enabled users to zoom into any location on Google Earth and generate new visuals using text commands. This capability drew immediate attention from researchers and users who demonstrated its potential for creating fabricated scenarios. For instance, digital ethics researcher Henk van Ess generated images depicting refugees near the Mexican border and a bomb crater adjacent to a hospital in Gaza, neither of which represented actual events.
Google stated that while geospatial professionals found uses for the tool, the company observed users sharing screenshots of generated images that appeared to contravene its policies. The company emphasized that these AI-generated images did not appear within the main Google Earth experience and were watermarked to indicate their synthetic nature. However, reports indicated that these watermarks could be overlooked by detection tools. Google's Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy outlines restrictions against creating content that facilitates illegal activities, violates rights, or engages in hateful or harmful activities.
In response to the concerns, Google announced on July 31, 2026, that it was "rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails". The company did not specify the exact nature of the policy violations observed. This action follows a previous instance where Google paused an AI tool, Gemini's image generation capability, in February 2024, after it produced historically inaccurate depictions of people.
The Nano Banana 2 model is described as a fast image generation model, part of Google's Gemini family, designed for rapid iteration and high-volume creative work. The tool's rapid removal highlights the ongoing challenges tech companies face in balancing the integration of powerful AI capabilities with the need to prevent misuse and maintain user trust. Google has not provided a timeline for when, or if, the Google Earth image generation feature might be reintroduced in a revised form.