Google has officially shut down Pixel Studio, its AI-powered image generation app that launched alongside the Pixel 9 series in 2024. The move comes less than two years after its debut and reflects Google’s growing focus on Gemini as the company’s primary AI platform.
According to a report by 9to5Google, the latest Pixel Studio update effectively disables the app. Users opening it now see an “Open Gemini” button that redirects them to the Google Play Store. The app also suggests using Nano Banana for image generation.
The update is currently rolling out and may take some time to reach all supported devices.
Pixel Studio was introduced as one of the flagship AI features of the Google Pixel 9 lineup. It allowed users to create images from text prompts and generate custom stickers from existing photos, showcasing Google’s on-device AI capabilities.
The app arrived at a time when AI image generation was becoming increasingly popular. Google used Pixel Studio to bring those capabilities directly to Pixel users without requiring third-party services.
The shutdown was not entirely unexpected. Google announced plans to wind down the app in February and has been gradually removing features since then. Earlier this year, several AI-powered editing tools were also removed from the app.
While Google has not shared a specific reason for the decision, the move aligns with its broader strategy of consolidating AI features under Google Gemini. Rather than maintaining separate apps for different AI tasks, the company appears to be bringing image generation, writing assistance, and other AI tools into a single platform.
The transition could also help Google streamline development efforts and deliver new AI features through one product instead of supporting multiple standalone applications. It is important to note that AI image creation is not disappearing completely. The functionality is being shifted to Gemini, which is becoming the central hub for Google’s AI-powered experiences across devices and services.
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