Google is scaling back how much free users can access its latest AI tools, Nano Banana Pro and Gemini 3 Pro, as both models experience a surge in popularity.
TLDR:
- Google reduced daily limits for free users of Nano Banana Pro and Gemini 3 Pro due to high demand.
- Nano Banana Pro’s free image generation is now capped at 2 images per day, down from 3.
- Gemini 3 Pro’s free prompt access was changed from 5 to a non-specific “basic access” with limits that may change daily.
- Paid users on Google AI Pro and AI Ultra plans remain unaffected.
What Happened?
Google quietly adjusted usage limits for its newest AI models, responding to what it calls “high demand” from users. The company’s support documentation now outlines tighter restrictions for free users accessing both the Nano Banana Pro image generator and Gemini 3 Pro AI assistant, both of which launched earlier in November.
Google Pulls Back on Free AI Access
Free users who were previously able to create up to three images daily using Nano Banana Pro are now limited to two. The support document clarifies, “Image generation and editing are in high demand. Limits may change frequently and will reset daily.”
The changes don’t stop there. Gemini 3 Pro, Google’s most advanced text-based AI yet, has also seen its access narrowed. When it launched on November 18, free-tier users could send up to five prompts per day, mirroring the earlier Gemini 2.5 Pro rollout. Now, that specific number is gone. Instead, users get “basic access,” with daily prompt limits that Google says “may change frequently.”
While exact figures are no longer stated, this shift appears to signal reduced access for non-paying users.
NotebookLM Features Also Rolled Back
In a further sign of platform strain, NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research assistant, has also temporarily removed access to Nano Banana Pro-powered features for free users. Infographics and Slide Decks, new features launched recently within NotebookLM’s Studio tab, have been rolled back amid capacity issues.
Google acknowledged the situation in a support message:
“Due to the overwhelming demand, we’re experiencing some capacity constraints… however, we plan on bringing everything back to normal as soon as we can!”
We are SO excited about the response to Infographics and Slide Decks! Due to the overwhelming demand, we’re experiencing some capacity constraints and have temporarily rolled back access to these features for Free users and instituted additional limits on generations for Pro…
— NotebookLM (@NotebookLM) November 25, 2025
Pro users also saw additional limits implemented during this temporary scale-back.
Paid Plans Remain Unchanged
Users subscribed to Google’s paid AI plans are unaffected by these changes. The AI Pro and AI Ultra tiers continue to offer 100 and 500 prompts per day, respectively, along with image generation access.
This tiered usage model echoes what other tech giants have done during high-demand periods. For instance, OpenAI once delayed image generation access in ChatGPT for free users due to server strain and hardware overload.
Daily Research News Takeaway
I get why Google had to tighten the screws on free access. Demand is exploding for these AI tools, and infrastructure can only stretch so far. Still, it’s a little frustrating for those just trying to experiment or learn without paying. The move makes it clear that the freemium model comes with trade-offs. If you want consistent access to these cutting-edge models, you might need to pay up. This is a classic case of tech companies balancing scale, cost, and user expectations.
