Google quietly discontinues its Earth AI feature a day after its rollout after users made no-no images

Google spent years trying to weave generative AI into its product line up, from Gemini in our Google Docs to AI overview in our search engines, and now Nano Banana 2 in Google Earth. But it turns out combining real places with generative AI was a disaster after users generated some taboo imagery, forcing Google to pull the rollout less than a day after it launched. 

“We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world,” a Google spokesperson told Fortune. “It’s important to note that generated images didn’t appear in the main Google Earth experience for others… and were watermarked as AI generated.”

The spokesperson’s comments come after it quickly became apparent users began abusing the system to create false images meant for disinformation. Some generated images of a nuclear plant in Iran, or refugees near the Mexico-US border.

The feature allowed users to overlay AI-generated scenes onto real satellite, aerial and 3D imagery. Google envisioned legitimate uses such as visualizing planning concepts or historical reconstructions, but users almost immediately began generating fabricated disasters, false military installations and conflict scenes tied to real-world locations.

Adverse effects common in AI use

Google’s Nano Banana technology allows users to generate AI images using simple queries, built-in to its Gemini chatbot. Unlike earlier AI-image generators, Nano Banana was designed to allow users to edit their images. Akin to Photoshop—the........

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