Tech Desk
13 September 2025, 08:42 PM IST
Nano banana AI 3D figurines trend in India sparks creativity, privacy concerns and Gemini AI debate.
Ghibli-Nano banana 3d figurine
The internet in India has moved from Ghibli-style portraits to a new craze: nano banana AI 3D figurines. Millions are experimenting with quirky designs, but digital activists and privacy experts warn that these seemingly harmless trends could expose users to deeper risks.
The trend began when OpenAI’s GPT-4o update made it easy to turn selfies into Studio Ghibli-style AI images. Soon after, platforms offering nano banana 3D model trends took over social media, turning everyday photos into figurine-like portraits.
Cybersecurity specialists caution that while these apps promise creativity, their terms often remain vague. Some claim to delete photos after use, but rarely clarify whether deletion is instant, delayed or partial. Photos also carry hidden metadata such as location and device details, creating risks beyond the playful surface.
Privacy risks hidden in fun
Digital privacy experts explain that AI portrait generators work on neural style transfer, separating a user’s photo from its artistic layer. While this powers eye-catching AI portraits, the process can leave fragments of data vulnerable. Hackers may even attempt reconstruction through inversion attacks, raising fears of identity fraud and deepfakes.
The design of such apps, with quick results and viral appeal, nudges users into sharing without reading fine print. What seems like fun engagement can normalise silent data collection, which in turn may be used for advertising, surveillance or training new AI systems.
Gemini AI photo prompt debate
The spotlight is now also on Google Gemini, promoted through trending searches such as Gemini AI photo prompt copy paste and Gemini AI photo generator free. AI researchers note that Gemini does not block requests to insert real people’s likenesses, unlike some platforms that offer guardrails.
This opens the door to polarising or misleading content. Gemini places a small marker in the corner of edited pictures and embeds SynthID watermarking. However, the watermark is not foolproof; it can be cropped out, and the detection tool is not yet public. That means Gemini trending photo prompts could fuel manipulated content that slips under the radar.
Users are also sharing popular requests like prompt for Gemini AI saree look or Google Gemini AI photo editing prompt. Experts warn that while such Gemini AI image generators attract with creativity, they may also increase the spread of manipulated photos that look authentic at a glance.
Safeguards and solutions
Cybersecurity experts recommend stripping metadata before uploading, using unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. Policy specialists argue that governments should demand simplified upfront disclosures and stricter audits from AI companies, ensuring transparency in tools like AI Studio and Gemini photo editors.
They also note that India, with its growing digital user base, should take the lead in regulating how apps handle personal data, especially as Google Gemini AI photo editing and chatGPT Ghibli art generators continue to trend.
The thin line between fun and exploitation
The rise of nano banana figurines, Gemini AI photo generators and AI portraits highlights how fast creativity meets risk. While users enjoy viral prompts, experts caution that society is reacting to AI rather than controlling it. Until detection tools like SynthID are fully accessible and clearer rules are in place, the divide between harmless fun and exploitation will remain blurred.
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