Google AI Models &amp; API in 2026

[Core Function] Gemini Omni Flash R2V (Reference-to-Video) generates a short 720p video guided by up to three reference images via the Interactions API. [Strengths] It fuses the styles, subjects, or elements from multiple reference images (referred to in the text prompt) into a single coherent animated clip with synchronized audio. [Best For] Highly recommended for: blending characters or visual styles from several images, reference-guided creative shots, and multi-subject compositions where the prompt directs how the references combine. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you only have a single starting frame (use I2V instead), or if you need 1080p or 4K or clips longer than 10 seconds; it accepts 1 to 3 reference images and outputs 720p up to 10 seconds (16:9 or 9:16). [Routing] Choose this when the user supplies multiple reference images to combine into one video. For single first-frame animation use Gemini Omni Flash I2V; to modify an existing video use Gemini Omni Flash Video Edit.

google/gemini-omni-flash-i2v

[Core Function] Gemini Omni Flash I2V is a fast Image-to-Video model that animates a single input image into a short 720p video via the Interactions API. [Strengths] It uses the provided image as the opening frame and generates smooth motion with natively synchronized audio at low latency. [Best For] Highly recommended for: bringing a still photo to life, quick product or portrait animation, and short social clips derived from a single image. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you need 1080p or 4K output, clips longer than 10 seconds, or the fusion of multiple reference images; it takes exactly one image and outputs 720p up to 10 seconds (16:9 or 9:16). Do NOT use it to edit an existing video. [Routing] Choose this when the user provides one image to animate. To fuse multiple reference images use Gemini Omni Flash R2V; to edit an existing video use Gemini Omni Flash Video Edit; for 4K cinematic results use Veo 3.1 I2V.

google/veo-3.1-lite-i2v

[Core Function] Veo 3.1 Lite I2V is a balanced image-to-video model. [Strengths] It offers a middle ground between speed and quality for animating images. [Best For] Highly recommended for: general image animation and web-ready content. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you need 4K resolution. [Routing] Use this model for standard image animation requests.

google/veo-2-i2v

[Core Function] Veo 2 I2V is an older generation image-to-video model. [Strengths] Known for its distinctive cinematic style and fluid motion priors from the Veo 2 era. Maintained for backward compatibility. [Best For] Existing legacy integrations and workflows that strictly depend on this specific model version's quirks. [Limitations] Do NOT use this for new creations. It is a legacy model maintained for backward compatibility. [Routing] Only use if explicitly requested; otherwise use Veo 3.1 I2V.

google/veo-3-fast-i2v

[Core Function] Veo 3 Fast I2V is an older generation image-to-video model. [Strengths] Provided strong physical consistency and 1080p generation capabilities before the 3.1 update. Maintained for backward compatibility. [Best For] Existing legacy integrations that require the specific speed/cost tradeoff of this older model. [Limitations] Do NOT use this for new creations. It is a legacy model maintained for backward compatibility. [Routing] Only use if explicitly requested; otherwise use Veo 3.1 I2V.

google/veo-3-i2v

[Core Function] Veo 3 I2V is an older generation image-to-video model. [Strengths] Provided strong physical consistency and 1080p generation capabilities before the 3.1 update. Maintained for backward compatibility. [Best For] Existing legacy integrations and workflows that strictly depend on this specific model version's quirks. [Limitations] Do NOT use this for new creations. It is a legacy model maintained for backward compatibility. [Routing] Only use if explicitly requested; otherwise use Veo 3.1 I2V.

google/veo-3.1-fast-i2v

[Core Function] Veo 3.1 Fast I2V is a high-speed image-to-video model. [Strengths] It quickly animates starting images at 1080p, optimized for low latency. [Best For] Highly recommended for: rapid prototyping and quick social media visual iterations. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model for the absolute highest visual fidelity or 4K output. [Routing] Choose this model when the user emphasizes 'fast' or 'quick' animation.

google/veo-3.1-i2v

[Core Function] Veo 3.1 I2V is Google's cinematic image-to-video generation model. [Strengths] It generates high-fidelity 4K video from a starting image. It supports advanced features like first-and-last frame conditioning and referencing up to three images. [Best For] Highly recommended for: animating concept art, creating cinematic transitions between images, and high-end video production. [Limitations] When using first+last frame or reference-only modes, the `duration` parameter must strictly be 8. Negative prompts are not supported in reference-only mode. [Routing] Use this model by default for high-quality image-to-video tasks or when multiple reference images are provided.

Text to Video

google/gemini-omni-flash-t2v

[Core Function] Gemini Omni Flash T2V is Google's fast multimodal Text-to-Video generation model built on the Interactions API. [Strengths] It quickly turns a text prompt into a short 720p video with natively synchronized audio, offering low latency and solid prompt adherence. [Best For] Highly recommended for: rapid text-to-video prototyping, short social and marketing clips, quick concept visualization, and cases where speed and built-in audio matter more than 4K cinematic detail. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you need 1080p or 4K resolution or clips longer than 10 seconds; output is fixed at 720p, capped at 10 seconds, with aspect ratio limited to 16:9 or 9:16. [Routing] Choose this model when the user emphasizes 'fast', 'quick', or short multimodal clips with sound. If the user demands maximum cinematic quality, 4K, or longer videos, choose Veo 3.1 T2V instead.

google/veo-3.1-lite-t2v

[Core Function] Veo 3.1 Lite T2V is a balanced text-to-video model. [Strengths] It provides a good balance between generation speed and visual quality, still supporting the advanced architecture of the 3.1 series. [Best For] Highly recommended for: general video content creation and social media posts where 4K is not strictly necessary. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model for the absolute highest cinematic fidelity (use the standard Veo 3.1 instead). [Routing] Route to this model for standard, everyday video generation tasks.

google/veo-2-t2v

[Core Function] Veo 2 T2V is an older generation text-to-video model. [Strengths] Known for its distinctive cinematic style and fluid motion priors from the Veo 2 era. Maintained for backward compatibility. [Best For] Existing legacy integrations and workflows that strictly depend on this specific model version's quirks. [Limitations] Do NOT use this for new creations. It is a legacy model maintained for backward compatibility. [Routing] Only use if explicitly requested; otherwise use Veo 3.1 T2V.

google/veo-3-fast-t2v

[Core Function] Veo 3 Fast T2V is an older generation text-to-video model. [Strengths] Provided strong physical consistency and 1080p generation capabilities before the 3.1 update. Maintained for backward compatibility. [Best For] Existing legacy integrations that require the specific speed/cost tradeoff of this older model. [Limitations] Do NOT use this for new creations. It is a legacy model maintained for backward compatibility. [Routing] Only use if explicitly requested; otherwise use Veo 3.1 T2V.

google/veo-3-t2v

[Core Function] Veo 3 T2V is an older generation text-to-video model. [Strengths] Provided strong physical consistency and 1080p generation capabilities before the 3.1 update. Maintained for backward compatibility. [Best For] Existing legacy integrations and workflows that strictly depend on this specific model version's quirks. [Limitations] Do NOT use this for new creations. It is a legacy model maintained for backward compatibility. [Routing] Only use if explicitly requested; otherwise use Veo 3.1 T2V.

google/veo-3.1-fast-t2v

[Core Function] Veo 3.1 Fast T2V is a high-speed text-to-video model. [Strengths] It is heavily optimized for fast generation, delivering video content with natively synchronized audio at 1080p quickly. [Best For] Highly recommended for: rapid prototyping, quick visual iteration, and high-volume background video generation. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you require 4K resolution or maximum artistic detail. [Routing] Choose this model when the user emphasizes 'fast', 'quick', or 'rapid' video generation.

google/veo-3.1-t2v

[Core Function] Veo 3.1 T2V is Google's state-of-the-art cinematic text-to-video engine. [Strengths] It natively generates 4K professional-grade video output with natively synchronized audio and supports complex camera movements. [Best For] Highly recommended for: high-end creative storytelling, cinematic short films, and experimental video production with sound. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you need instant/real-time generation, as 4K video rendering takes time. [Routing] Use this model by default for all high-quality text-to-video requests on the Google platform.

Image Editing

google/nano-banana-2-lite-edit

[Core Function] Nano Banana 2 Lite Edit (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) is the lightweight, cost-efficient image editing model of the Nano Banana 2 family; it transforms one or more input images per a text instruction. [Strengths] It performs fast, low-cost instruction-based editing across up to 14 input images. [Best For] Highly recommended for: high-volume edits, quick style transforms, and batch background or attribute changes where cost and throughput matter. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model when you need the highest edit fidelity or richest detail; use Nano Banana 2 Edit or Nano Banana Pro Edit instead. [Routing] Choose the Lite variant for cost- and throughput-sensitive edits; step up to Nano Banana 2 Edit for higher quality.

google/nano-banana-2-edit

[Core Function] Nano Banana 2 Edit is a high-speed image editing model. [Strengths] It rapidly modifies existing images or extracts image frames from videos based on text prompts. [Best For] Highly recommended for: rapid style transfer, quick image modifications, and fast creative edits. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model for meticulous photorealistic retouching. [Routing] Use this model by default for fast, creative image editing tasks.

google/nano-banana-pro-edit

[Core Function] Nano Banana Pro Edit is a high-capability creative image editing model. [Strengths] It provides high-quality creative edits, background replacements, and style transformations. [Best For] Highly recommended for: detailed creative modifications and complex style transfers. [Limitations] Do NOT use for strict photorealistic restoration. [Routing] Use this model for detailed, high-quality creative edits.

google/nano-banana-edit

[Core Function] Nano Banana Edit is the original fast image editing model. [Strengths] Fast basic edits. [Limitations] Superseded by Nano Banana 2 Edit. [Routing] Default to Nano Banana 2 Edit unless specifically requested.

Text to Image

google/nano-banana-2-lite

[Core Function] Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) is the lightweight, cost-efficient text-to-image model of the Nano Banana 2 family. [Strengths] It generates images even faster and more cheaply than Nano Banana 2, well suited to high-volume creative and stylized output at lower cost. [Best For] Highly recommended for: high-volume batch generation, quick drafts and thumbnails, and cost-sensitive creative iteration. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model when you need maximum detail, high-end photorealism, or the richest quality; use Nano Banana 2, Nano Banana Pro, or the Imagen 4 series instead. [Routing] Choose the Lite variant when cost and throughput matter more than peak quality; step up to Nano Banana 2 for richer results.

google/imagen-4.0-fast-generate-001

[Core Function] Imagen 4.0 Fast is a high-speed text-to-image model optimized for rapid visual generation. [Strengths] It offers incredible generation speed (approximately 2.7 seconds) and high cost-effectiveness while maintaining excellent text rendering inside images. [Best For] Highly recommended for rapid prototyping, quick design iteration, high-volume image generation, social media thumbnails, blog hero images, and UI mockups. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you require 2K resolution (it does not support the imageSize parameter) or the absolute highest cinematic fidelity and strict prompt alignment. Does not support negative prompts or native image editing. [Routing] Choose this model when the user emphasizes 'fast', 'quick', 'rapid', or needs high-volume, low-latency generation.

google/imagen-4.0-ultra-generate-001

[Core Function] Imagen 4.0 Ultra is Google's premium text-to-image model optimized for the highest quality and instruction alignment. [Strengths] It delivers ultimate photorealistic detail, superior texture rendering, and extremely strict adherence to complex, multi-part prompt instructions, supporting up to 2K resolution. [Best For] Highly recommended for high-end commercial marketing assets, professional design, intricate artistic compositions, and scenarios where precise instruction-following is paramount. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you need instant/real-time generation, native image editing (inpainting/outpainting), or negative prompts. It is the most expensive tier in the Imagen family. [Routing] Choose this model when the user demands the absolute highest quality, ultimate detail, or has highly complex prompt instructions. Otherwise, default to standard Imagen 4.0 or Imagen 4.0 Fast.

google/imagen-4.0-generate-001

[Core Function] Imagen 4.0 is Google's flagship professional-grade text-to-image model designed for high-fidelity visual generation. [Strengths] It excels at industry-leading photorealism, exceptional typography/text rendering inside images, and strong prompt adherence, supporting up to 2K resolution and batch generation. [Best For] Highly recommended for general high-quality image generation, marketing assets (posters, product labels, menus, signage), and product photography mockups where readable text is required. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you need instant/real-time generation, native image editing (inpainting/outpainting), or negative prompts. It is strictly an image-only output model. [Routing] Use this model by default for high-quality, photorealistic text-to-image requests. If the user emphasizes speed or needs lower cost, route to Imagen 4.0 Fast. If the user demands the absolute highest detail and prompt precision, route to Imagen 4.0 Ultra.

google/nano-banana-2

[Core Function] Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) is an extremely fast text-to-image model. [Strengths] It is optimized for high-speed, high-volume visual generation, creative prompting, and rapid stylistic experimentation. [Best For] Highly recommended for: rapid creative iteration, generating large batches of images quickly, and artistic/stylized graphics. [Limitations] Do NOT use this model if you require strict, high-end photorealism (use the Imagen 4 series instead). [Routing] Route to this model for 'fast', 'creative', or 'stylized' high-volume requests.

google/nano-banana-pro

[Core Function] Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) is a high-capability creative image model. [Strengths] It balances the creative flexibility and speed of the Nano series with higher fidelity output. [Best For] Highly recommended for: high-quality stylized art and complex creative compositions. [Limitations] Do NOT use for absolute photorealism (use Imagen 4). [Routing] Use this model for high-quality, creative, non-photorealistic requests.

google/nano-banana