Google Positions Itself as a Contender in AI Design at I/O 2026
During its annual Google I/O event on Tuesday, Google unveiled a new AI-driven app called Pics, designed for design and image generation within Google Workspace. The company emphasizes that the app aims to be user-friendly for everyone, including teachers and small business owners.
With Pics, users can create a variety of visuals, from social media graphics and invitations to marketing materials and mock-ups, all through straightforward text prompts—eliminating the need for any specialized editing skills or advanced software. By providing a simple way to generate images, Google is positioning itself against established design tools like Canva and emerging AI-driven competitors such as Claude Design from Anthropic. This move indicates that AI-based design is quickly becoming a crucial area of competition, essential for businesses that rely on visual content.
The new application is set to be tested by a select group at I/O and will roll out to Google AI Ultra subscribers this coming summer, according to Google.
The company recognizes that while current AI models can produce high-quality images, altering a specific aspect of an image remains challenging. If users find an image that is almost perfect but wish to tweak a minor detail, they often have to create an entirely new prompt and hope that the AI doesn’t make significant changes. Pics addresses this by not only generating images but also allowing for straightforward edits.
Users can simply enter a prompt, and Pics will deliver what they are looking for. The editing capabilities are powered by Gemini, enabling total customization of every element within a generated design or image. Changes can be made by writing a new prompt, or users can click on the specific element they want to adjust and leave a comment—similar to feedback in Google Docs.
Additionally, users have the option to edit directly, without needing to leave a comment or draft a new prompt. For instance, if a user creates a birthday invitation and needs to update the time, they can do so manually.
Pics operates on Nano Banana 2, which Google claims is particularly well-suited for the app as it excels in accurate text rendering, real-world knowledge, and detailed visual output. The app is also seamlessly integrated into Google Workspace, fostering visual collaboration across its platforms.
Once satisfied with their design, users are able to download, copy, print, or share their work with others. They can also hand it off to someone else for final edits before it’s finalized, according to Google.
Catch up on the rest of Google IO 2026’s major announcements
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Google has updated the Gemini app to compete with ChatGPT and Claude.
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