She named Google's Nano Banana. She has an idea why it went viral. (www.businessinsider.com)

Google's Product Manager Naina Raisinghani has shared the whimsical origin of the "Nano Banana" codename for the company's new AI image-generation model. The playful name emerged during a late-night brainstorming session and is a blend of her own nicknames, "Naina Banana" and "Nano." This light-hearted approach has resonated with users, contributing to the model’s viral success, which Raisinghani attributes to its worldwide availability from launch and the culturally relevant prompts that captured user interest across various regions. The significance of Nano Banana in the AI/ML community lies not just in its unique branding but also in its broad accessibility, which has allowed a diverse range of users to engage with the technology immediately. This strategy mirrors a trend among AI developers to choose quirky codenames for their models, enhancing brand identity while boosting user engagement. As the model gains traction, Google plans to continue capitalizing on the humor associated with its name, embracing community feedback and visual puns, and fostering a playful connection with its users.