Google Nano Banana, Vintage Saree AI trends go viral: How safe are your photos?
PTC Web Desk: If you’ve been on Instagram lately, chances are you’ve come across the quirky Google Nano Banana portraits or the glamorous vintage saree AI edits. These viral trends have taken over social feeds, sparking excitement as well as concern.
The Nano Banana craze is powered by Google’s Gemini Nano model, which transforms ordinary selfies into 3D figurine-like characters. The results feature glossy, toy-like skin, large expressive eyes, and playful cartoonish details. Riding on the same wave, the vintage saree AI trend gives users retro-inspired looks, reimagining portraits in elegant traditional sarees with cinematic backdrops. But as with every AI-driven trend, questions around safety and privacy follow.
How safe is Google Nano Banana tool?
Google assures users that images edited or generated with its tools carry SynthID, an invisible digital watermark, along with metadata tags that mark them as AI-generated. According to Google’s AI Studio, this watermark helps ensure transparency by confirming that AI was involved in creating the image.
However, while the watermark exists, it isn’t foolproof. Reports note that everyday users cannot yet access public detection tools to verify these watermarks. Experts also point out that digital stamps can be altered or stripped, making them unreliable if used alone. Hany Farid, a professor at UC Berkeley, suggests that watermarking may be helpful when combined with stronger detection systems, but cannot fully protect against deepfakes.
How to protect your photos online
Avoid uploading highly personal, intimate, or sensitive images to AI tools.
Strip out details such as location or device info before uploading.
Adjust your social media privacy settings to limit who can view and share your content.
Retain copies of your original photos to track any unauthorised edits.
Always review platform policies to understand if your uploads may be reused for AI training.
- With inputs from agencies
