Thanks to this new partnership, India is at the forefront of using Google’s innovative app, Nano Banana. This is indicative of the country’s rich creative, cultural, and artistic expression. As of August 2023, India’s numbers are breathtaking—15.2 million total downloads. In comparison, the United States trailed far behind with just 9.8 million downloads in the same time frame, Appfigures data shows.
As the numbers are showing right now, India represents 16.6% of global monthly downloads of Gemini, the platform where Nano Banana is available. Indian users are downloading the app at an astonishing pace! On average, they download 1.9 million new apps per month, a figure that is roughly 55% higher than their American counterparts. On September 13, the app reached new heights. At times downloads reached as high as 414,000 – a truly incredible 667% jump from previous figures. As of today, September 10th, Gemini has been number one on iOS App Store. It further shot to No. 1 on Google Play as of September 12.
In fact, India has led an extraordinary turnaround. Between September 1 and September 16, spending increased drastically by 18% from August to September, reaching an astounding $13,000. This financial engagement indicates not only widespread adoption of the app but user willingness to invest in their creative endeavors.
Indian users have taken to Nano Banana with extraordinary zeal, using the app to change their environment in creative ways that we had never expected. Many are experimenting with features that allow them to create time-travel effects and even reimagine themselves as vintage postage stamps. One of the most popular trends was creating retro-style portraits while draped in classic Indian garments, known as “AI saree.”
Plus, people are recreating archival aesthetics like those evoking 90s Bollywood movies. Vibrant glimmers of Indian cinema’s storied past. Selfies with iconic landmarks are on the rise. Users are rushing to get selfies in front of iconic landscapes such as Big Ben and the UK’s iconic telephone booths.
Even with the highest number of installs, India fails to lead the charge in terms of in-app spend on the Gemini platform. Its user base helps facilitate the aforementioned trend of taking localized fads to worldwide acclaim.
Google is actively monitoring user feedback and trends as it navigates privacy and safety concerns arising from increased usage in India. The tech giant is in the process of testing an improved detection platform with trusted testers, researchers, and technology experts to improve security measures.
Sharon, a spokesperson for Google, made it clear that Google is serious about putting users first.
“This is still day one, and we’re still learning, and we’re learning together. There are things that we might need to improve on in the future, and it’s really your feedback from users, press, academia, and experts that helps us improve.” – Sharon
No wonder India’s growth figures look so impressive. In fact, they are seven percentage points higher than the global average and more than 17 points ahead of the United States (at a growth rate of less than 1%). This speedy adoption is a testament to the enthusiasm India has towards technology. It showcases the country’s growing potential to showcase creativity through digital platforms.
“When a user asks us to fulfill their query, we do our best to fulfill that query. We don’t try to assume what the user’s intent is.” – Sharon
The growth figures for India are striking; they reflect a rate that is seven percentage points above the global average and more than 17 points ahead of the United States, where the growth rate remains under 1%. This rapid adoption highlights not only India’s enthusiasm for technology but also its capacity for creative expression through digital platforms.