Google's Imagen 3 is now open to everyone in the US

A statue of the multicolored "G" in Google on the Google campus in Mountain View
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • According to a research paper by Google, Imagen 3 is a top performer, creating high-quality images from text and beating other models in tests.
  • Imagen 3 has improved understanding of user prompts and includes safeguards against generating offensive or illegal content, unlike xAI’s more controversial Grok-2.
  • Feedback suggests Imagen 3 has stricter restrictions compared to previous models, likely as a response to issues with Google's earlier Gemini model.

Google just rolled out Imagen 3, its updated AI-powered image generator, but instead of its usual big reveal, the tech giant chose to slip the advanced model into everyone's hands in the U.S. without much fanfare.

A research paper from Google, spotted by VentureBeat, describes Imagen 3 as a latent diffusion model that excels at creating high-quality images from text prompts. The paper also claims that Imagen 3 outperformed other models in tests.

Google first introduced its advanced image generator at its I/O conference in May. But it wasn’t until later this month that the company made it widely available through its Vertex AI platform.

The tech giant claimed major improvements in how well Imagen 3 understands user prompts. Like other AI image generators, it can create detailed visuals from text descriptions but has limits on generating offensive or illegal content. To prevent misuse, the model won’t produce images of public figures or any weapon-related visuals.

This is in contrast to xAI’s Grok-2, which has fewer restrictions and has become a hotspot for controversial images on the web.

User feedback reveals that Imagen 3 comes with tighter restrictions compared to earlier versions, reflecting the larger challenges surrounding AI image generators. These tools have sparked ongoing debates, with new AI-generated content frequently grabbing attention, stirring controversy, or dividing opinions online.

Google seems to be taking a cautious approach with Imagen 3’s rollout. It’s still unclear if it'll keep this conservative stance as the model evolves.

Google’s cautious approach with Imagen 3 might be a reaction to the backlash against its Gemini model earlier this year. After Gemini produced historically inaccurate images that distorted racial representation, Google paused its image generation to fix the problems.

The Mountain View-based company also mentioned that Imagen 3 will come in different versions tailored for various uses, like quick sketching or high-resolution image creation.

Users can also tweak images by choosing specific areas and giving detailed instructions. To check it out, head to Google’s AI Test Kitchen website, sign in with your Google account, and dive into the platform.

Jay Bonggolto
News Writer & Reviewer

Jay Bonggolto always keeps a nose for news. He has been writing about consumer tech and apps for as long as he can remember, and he has used a variety of Android phones since falling in love with Jelly Bean. Send him a direct message via Twitter or LinkedIn.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
SynthID AI safety features announced
Google Photos will soon watermark Magic Editor creations with SynthID
Gemini 2.5 Pro graphics and benchmark results.
Gemini 2.5 Pro is Google's latest AI model with thinking and multimodality built-in
AI Mode in action
Google tests experimental 'AI Mode' enhancing search results
Running Gemini Advanced on a Google Pixel 9 Pro
Gemini gains new updates and a couple of experimental models’ successors
Gemini response on Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Gemini might be prepping AI video generation for a future update
Google's Gemini debuts its dedicated app on iPhones.
Looks like Gemini Flash 2.0 lets you remove watermarks from pictures, but there's a catch
Latest in Apps & Software
The promotional image for Google Workspace feature drops.
The March Workspace feature drop upgrades Gemini's note-taking and translation tools
YouTube Music home screen
YouTube Music's personalized radio stations are getting even smarter
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Home Screen - 16x9
Heads up — Samsung's detailed One UI 7 rollout schedule for Galaxy appears
The old Android logo at Google's Pier 57 building in New York City
Report claims Google may move to 'privately' develop Android's future
Comparing the display size on the Samsung Galaxy S25 with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
What you need to know about One UI 7: Software is hard
The Google Maps logo at the Google Maps Street View Garage
Google Maps might predict more than just the traffic for you soon
Latest in News
The promotional image for Google Workspace feature drops.
The March Workspace feature drop upgrades Gemini's note-taking and translation tools
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on display
New leak shows off Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge in 'Titanium' variants
YouTube Music home screen
YouTube Music's personalized radio stations are getting even smarter
The back of the Obsidian Google Pixel 9 Pro
Some Pixel owners had a delayed start, thanks to alarm clock failures
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Home Screen - 16x9
Heads up — Samsung's detailed One UI 7 rollout schedule for Galaxy appears
The old Android logo at Google's Pier 57 building in New York City
Report claims Google may move to 'privately' develop Android's future