Google expands Firebase AI tools with Imagen editing and Gemini 2.5 Flash Image capabilities

Google has introduced new AI-powered image generation features for developers through Firebase AI Logic, enhancing how apps can integrate visual content to increase user engagement. The update includes the preview release of Imagen’s advanced editing tools and the general availability of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image — also known internally as “Nano Banana”.

The new tools allow developers to create, edit, and customize images dynamically within their apps, enabling experiences such as generating personalized profile avatars or visual assets that adapt to in-app context.

Imagen now supports mask-based editing, offering developers the ability to make selective adjustments to existing images without regenerating the entire picture. Through inpainting, developers can modify areas within a mask, while outpainting lets them expand or alter the surrounding background. This feature allows for precise control while maintaining the integrity of the original image.

The Imagen editing capabilities are currently in developer preview, though the image generation model itself is production-ready. Developers can already experiment with the tools via Firebase’s Android AI sample catalog.

In contrast, Gemini 2.5 Flash Image focuses on contextual and conversational image generation. It leverages the broader Gemini model’s reasoning abilities and real-world knowledge to generate visuals aligned with the user’s activity or conversation. Developers can instruct the model using natural language, iteratively refining or updating images through multi-turn interactions.

Gemini’s chat-based editing approach allows users to issue real-time instructions — for instance, replacing an object in a photo or adjusting composition — without manually defining image masks.

Google also emphasized the importance of AI safety when integrating generative tools, urging developers to assess security risks, perform content moderation, and collect user feedback to mitigate potential misuse.

Both Imagen and Gemini 2.5 Flash Image serve different purposes:

• Imagen provides finer creative control, supporting specific aspect ratios, artistic styles, and mask-based edits.
• Gemini 2.5 Flash Image excels at maintaining context across sessions and embedding accurate visuals in dynamic, text-driven scenarios.