Google launches Pics, an AI-powered design app for Workspace

Google announced on Tuesday at Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference, that it is launching Pics, a new AI-powered design and image-generation app integrated directly into Google Workspace. The technology giant designed the app to be accessible to a broad range of users, from teachers to small business owners. Through Pics, users can generate visual assets such as social media graphics, invitations, marketing materials, and mock-ups using simple text prompts, without requiring advanced editing skills or specialized tools.

The launch positions Google to compete directly with popular design platforms like Canva, as well as products from AI-native competitors such as Anthropic’s Claude Design. Google’s entry into this segment highlights how AI-powered design is becoming a critical competitive arena for technology giants and startups alike. By building the tool natively into Google Workspace, Google enables visual collaboration across its existing suite of productivity applications, allowing users to share and edit designs seamlessly.

Technically, Pics is powered by Nano Banana 2, an AI model that Google states is a strong fit for the application because it supports precise text rendering, real-world knowledge, and detailed visual output. While Nano Banana 2 powers the core application, Google’s Gemini model powers the editing layer. This distinction addresses a common limitation in current AI image generation, where modifying a single detail often requires writing an entirely new prompt. With Gemini powering the editing layer, every element in a generated design is fully adjustable. Users can write a new prompt to make changes, click on a specific part of the image to leave a comment for feedback, or edit elements directly, such as manually changing the text on a generated invitation.

The new app is currently launching to a group of testers at the developer conference. Google plans to roll out Pics to subscribers of Google AI Ultra, its subscription service, this summer. Once users are satisfied with their designs, they can download, copy, print, or share them, or pass them to other users for a final round of collaborative edits.

Why it matters

Google’s entry into the space signals that AI-powered design is fast becoming a core competitive arena — with real stakes for any business that depends on visual content.