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Google has quietly tightened free access limits for two of its latest AI offerings as demand surges. Free users of Gemini 3 Pro and the image tool Nano Banana Pro now face reduced daily quotas — a move Google says is temporary while it expands capacity.
What changed — the new limits explained
At launch, non-paying users could try Gemini 3 Pro with up to 5 prompts per day, and Nano Banana Pro allowed creating 3 images daily. Those fixed allowances have been replaced by a less predictable "basic access" tier.
- Gemini 3 Pro: free users are now on Basic Access — Google warns daily limits may change frequently instead of the previous fixed 5 prompts.
- Nano Banana Pro: the image creation quota for free users has been cut to 2 images per day, with Google noting high demand may prompt further adjustments.
NotebookLM features also hit by the squeeze
These changes extend beyond standalone models. Google says NotebookLM’s new Nano Banana Pro–based features, such as Infographics and Slide Decks, are temporarily unavailable to free users. Some additional restrictions apply even to certain Pro-tier operations within NotebookLM.
Google's official stance
In a brief statement, Google acknowledged capacity limits caused by extremely high demand and said it plans to restore broader access as it scales infrastructure. The company also clarified that paid Google AI Pro and Ultra subscriptions for Gemini remain unchanged for now.
Why this matters for creators and developers
Imagine building workflows that rely on predictable daily queries or image outputs — sudden quota changes disrupt testing, content plans, and demos. Smaller teams and hobbyists, who often depend on free tiers to prototype, are most affected. For enterprise users, the impact is limited if they use paid plans, but the signal is clear: cloud AI infrastructure is under pressure as adoption grows.
Practical steps users can take
- Monitor your usage closely and prioritize critical prompts or image generations.
- Consider a short-term paid plan if you need stable, higher quotas for production or important demos.
- Check Google’s official updates and status pages for capacity changes and restoration timelines.
- Design fallback workflows that can operate offline or with alternate providers if quotas tighten again.
Google’s move underscores how rapidly AI demand can outpace infrastructure. For now, free users should expect fluctuating access to Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro, while paid tiers remain the safer choice for consistent performance.
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