Nano Banana Comes to the Classroom: Gemini Image Generation Now Open to All Students

We’ve been tracking the rollout of Gemini’s creative tools for months, and while teachers have had access to image generation for a while, students have mostly been left on the sidelines. That officially changes now. Google is expanding Gemini image generation—powered by the Nano Banana model—to Google Workspace users of all ages, including those in Education environments.

Bringing the ‘Nano Banana’ Model to Students

For students, this isn’t just a toy; it’s a powerful tool for visualization. Instead of hunting through copyright-restricted image searches, a student can now prompt Gemini directly within their workflow. Google highlights a few great examples, like a biology student asking for an image of a cell’s mitochondria or a history student generating a visual of a public square in ancient Rome to help bring a presentation to life.

Rigorous Safety and Guardrails

Bringing generative AI to users under 18 requires a much higher level of scrutiny. Google noted that they conducted “rigorous testing” specifically for this age group before flipping the switch. To keep things safe and focused on learning, students under 18 have a slightly different experience than adults:

• No Direct Editing: While they can use follow-up prompts to “improve” an image (e.g., “make it look more like a painting”), they cannot use the direct editing tools available to adults.
• No Uploaded Images: Students cannot upload their own photos to use as a base for image generation, preventing potential misuse of personal or peer photos.
• Built-in Filters: The Nano Banana model has been specifically trained to recognize and block content inappropriate for youth, such as illegal or age-gated substances.

A Note for Admins

While this is rolling out globally to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains now, it is important to note that Admins still have the final say. If a school district isn’t ready for students to have this power, IT admins can turn the Gemini app service OFF for specific organizational units (OUs) or groups within the Admin console.

This update is available for Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus users. It’s a huge step toward making Gemini a consistent, creative partner for everyone in the school building, not just the faculty.