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@evanhill posted on 2026-07-30 that Google activated an AI image‑generation…

2026-07-30 · 20:31 UTC ·@evanhill ·1 min read

Brief

Google Earth added an AI image‑generation capability on 2026-07-30, promoted in a blog post calling the feature ‘Nano Banana’ and describing custom images generated from satellite, aerial and 3D imagery. @evanhill flagged the rollout as risky, and @henkvaness published a video showing how one prompt can fabricate scenes—placing refugees by the US–Mexico border and planting a nuclear plant in Iran—underscoring broad disinformation and abuse concerns.

Why it matters

@evanhill posted on 2026-07-30 that Google activated an AI image‑generation feature inside Google Earth (linked blog: “Transform any place with Nano Banana in Google Earth”), which uses satellite, aerial, and 3D imagery to create custom images.

Key details

  • Researcher @henkvaness demonstrated the feature by typing a single sentence to place refugees near the Mexican border and to add a nuclear plant in Iran, warning the tool can be used for disinformation and abuse.
Source evidence

So it seems Google activated its AI image generation program inside its satellite image app today (blog post here: blog.google/products-and-pla…). Very curious how or if this idea was red teamed internally because the opportunities for abuse and disinfo are literally boundless.

Link

Transform any place with Nano Banana in Google Earth

Custom images — generated from Google Earth satellite, aerial, and 3D imagery — help you redesign any location.
blog.google

𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚔 𝚟𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚜𝚜 (@henkvaness)

Tonight I typed just one sentence into Google Earth and put refugees near the Mexican border. Then I planted a nuclear plant in Iran. What on earth is Google doing? Check my latest post here: digitaldigging.org/p/how-to-…

Video

— https://nitter.net/henkvaness/status/2082912544394498228#m