Google axes Pixel-exclusive AI tool after less than two years

Google has quietly retired its AI image generation application, Pixel Studio, less than two years after its launch. Introduced with the Pixel 9 series in 2024, the app was designed to create images based on text prompts.

In a recent update to version 2.3, the core AI image generation functionality of Pixel Studio has been disabled. Users are now directed to Google's Gemini platform, which will handle image creation using Nano Banana technology. This move suggests a strategic shift by Google to consolidate its AI services under the Gemini umbrella.

The phasing out of Pixel Studio was foreshadowed in earlier updates, which began removing some of its features. While the core service is now defunct, users can still access images they previously generated within the application. This change is unlikely to significantly affect users in Taiwan, as Pixel Studio was exclusively available for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series and supported only English, German, and Japanese, with a limited global rollout to about 10 countries, excluding Taiwan.