Alphabet Rolls Out $0.034/Image, $0.10/sec AI Models, Limits API Access
Retail trading in Alphabet stock fell to 6% of volume, a four-year low, as total retail activity dropped 15% in June despite overall trading rising 12%. Alphabet launched Nano Banana 2 Lite at $0.034 per 1,000 images and Gemini Omni Flash at $0.10 per second, while capping external API access due to capacity constraints.
1. Launch of AI Models
Google launched Nano Banana 2 Lite, its most cost-efficient Gemini Image model, which generates text-to-image outputs in about four seconds at $0.034 per 1,000 images. The company also introduced Gemini Omni Flash, a high-quality video generation and conversational editing model available via the Gemini API and Google AI Studio at $0.10 per second.
2. API Access Limits
Compute capacity constraints prompted Google to restrict external access to its Gemini API, affecting key partners like Meta Platforms, which has reduced reliance on external AI providers and is increasing use of its in-house Muse Spark model to handle tasks such as content moderation and scam detection.
3. Retail Trading Decline
Retail trading in Alphabet stock accounted for just 6% of total volume over the five days through last Friday, marking a four-year low as overall retail activity fell 15% in June despite a 12% rise in total trading volume.
4. Waymo and Uber End Pilot
Waymo and Uber concluded their robotaxi pilot in Phoenix, ending the collaboration on autonomous ride-hailing services and signaling a shift in strategic focus for Waymo’s urban mobility initiatives.
