Google Gemini App Reaches 1 Billion Users, Watermarks Optional

Google's Gemini AI app has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, making it the company's fastest-growing product to reach that milestone and its 14th product overall to do so [2]. This growth coincides with Google giving Gemini and Flow users the option to disable visible watermarks on AI-generated images, video, and music, balancing creative control with transparency [1].

Gemini's Rapid Expansion and AI Integration

The Gemini app's user base now rivals OpenAI's ChatGPT, which also reached 1 billion monthly active users in June [2]. Google has integrated Gemini across its ecosystem, including Search, Workspace, and Android, with nearly every Android phone now shipping with the app [2]. Over 100 million of Gemini's monthly active users are on iOS, requiring a manual download [2]. The company reports that 63% of Gemini users engage with the voice feature, and the AI generates more than 150 million images daily [2].

Google is leveraging its Gemini AI model to enhance its core advertising business, which accounted for 69% of its $81.63 billion revenue in the latest reported quarter [3]. Gemini improves ad quality by finding relevant ads for longer search queries and expanding keyword matches in Google Ads search campaigns [3]. The company's AI Overviews and AI Mode features in Google Search are also contributing to improved revenue by making search results more relevant [3].

Watermark Policy and Transparency Tools

Google is rolling out a new Media Watermark setting that allows users to toggle off visible watermarks on AI-generated content from its Nano Banana (images), Omni (video), and Lyria (music) models [1]. This option is becoming available in Gemini and Flow over the next few days, with support for Google Search to follow [1]. The company states this change aims to balance creative control with safety [1].

While visible watermarks are now optional, invisible SynthID watermarks and C2PA Content Credentials metadata remain embedded in every AI-generated file [1]. Google's verification tools, including directly asking Gemini or using Search features like "About this image," can still identify if content was AI-generated, regardless of the visible watermark setting [1]. Google further enhanced this capability by open-sourcing Credentio, a C++ library for verifying C2PA credentials directly within applications, which is already used in nearly 40 of its own C2PA-compliant products [1]. The visible watermark toggle will not be available in countries with legally mandated visible watermarks, such as India, South Korea, and Vietnam [1].

What to watch

• Google Search Watermark Rollout: Monitor for specific dates and details on how the visible watermark toggle will be implemented in Google Search [1].
• New Study Tools: Google plans to release new study tools in the coming weeks, targeting the 38% of school-related requests that include attachments [2].
• Gemini 3.5 Pro Launch: Investors are scrutinizing Alphabet as the delayed launch of its flagship Gemini 3.5 Pro AI model raises questions about the company's ability to convert AI investments into sustained growth [2].

The rapid adoption of the Gemini app underscores Google's strategy to integrate AI deeply across its product ecosystem, while its evolving watermark policy highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing user control with content transparency in the age of generative AI.