Google Earth added Nano Banana, and I immediately reimagined Philly with zombies and evil clowns

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Google Earth can now generate AI images with Nano Banana. The tool is entertaining, but weak for serious geographic work. It treats locations like screenshots, not understood places. Today, Google is announcing the integration of AI-based image generation into Google Earth, effectively embedding Nano Banana 2 inside the mapping software. I tried it. Much hilarity ensued. Both Google Maps and Google Earth have been around for just over 20 years. I remember when both came out. I spent hours poking around the globe, glorying in the ability to virtually travel anywhere. Street View, although somewhat intrusive, was another feature that just enthralled me, and still does to this day. The two services are very similar, and yet quite different. Google Maps is positioned as the tool that helps you get somewhere. Google Earth is positioned as a tool for exploring locations both on and off the planet. Also: I tested ChatGPT Images 2.0 vs. Gemini Nano Banana to see…