Have you noticed the trend of a 3D figurine with model packaging circulating on social media? It's called the “Nano Banana," and it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI) through Gemini or Google AI Studio.

A new AI-powered trend is sweeping across social media, catching eyes by transforming ordinary photos into hyper-realistic collectible figurines, just by using Google's AI tools.

The generated photos come with toy-style packaging, acrylic display stands, and even a mock modeling screen showing the design process.

The tool was originally codenamed "Nano-Banana" on LMArena, an open platform for evaluating AI according to human preference, during the pre-release testing phase of Google’s latest image model. It has since been officially released under the name Gemini 2.5 Flash Image.

Users around the world quickly joined the trend, generating lifelike 3D renders of themselves, friends, family members, even pets, as collectible action figures straight out of a futuristic toy store.

The model depicts a small, stylized figurine, which often looks like a humanoid character of the subject, encased in a miniature display box that mimics the aesthetics of high-end model kits or pop culture merchandise you usually see at Anime or Video Game conventions.

What sets Nano Banana apart is its fusion of AI-generated visual realism with nostalgic pop culture packaging, creating a unique blend of digital art, personal branding, and collectible culture. It pushes the boundaries of current text-to-image AI capabilities, showcasing just how far generative tools have come in producing.

From Facebook to TikTok, the Nano Banana wave is everywhere, with users eagerly sharing their miniature selves as if they've been immortalized in plastic.

While many are drawn to the trend for its novelty and fun, some still prefer to focus on the real-world craft. These individuals prefer to take time to build and customize the actual scale models, valuing the hands-on process, patience, and creativity that come with the hobby.

“AI outputs like this are kinda harmful long-term kasi they flood platforms with mass-produced images that all look the same, and they undercut the real culture of model kit building, which is about patience, skill, and creativity,” a critic stated, expressing concern about the long-term impact of mass AI-generated content.

Unlike traditional modeling, which emphasizes skill and craftsmanship, AI simply remixes existing material, often without credit or a sense of artistic process.

In an age where digital identity and artistic expression collide, Nano Banana represents more than just a trend; it offers a glimpse into the future of creativity powered by AI, and perhaps even its domination, as technology increasingly shapes how we see ourselves and our creative expression through its lens.