Apple researchers have released Pico-Banana-400K, a comprehensive dataset of 400,000 curated images that's been specifically designed to improve how AI systems edit photos based on text prompts.
The massive dataset aims to address what Apple describes as a gap in current AI image editing training. While systems like GPT-4o can make impressive edits, the researchers say progress has been limited by inadequate training data built from real photographs. Apple's new dataset aims to improve the situation.
Pico-Banana-400K features images organized into 35 different edit types across eight categories, from basic adjustments like color changes to complex transformations such as converting people into Pixar-style characters or LEGO figures. Each image went through Apple's AI-powered quality control system, with Google's Gemini-2.5-Pro being used to evaluate the results based on instruction compliance and technical quality.
The dataset also includes three specialized subsets: 258,000 single-edit examples for basic training, 56,000 preference pairs comparing successful and failed edits, and 72,000 multi-turn sequences showing how images evolve through multiple consecutive edits.
Apple built the dataset using Google's Gemini-2.5-Flash-Image (aka Nano-Banana) editing model, which was released just a few months ago. However, Apple's research revealed its limitations. While global style changes succeeded 93% of the time, precise tasks like relocating objects or editing text seriously struggled, with success rates below 60%.
Despite the limitations, researchers say their aim with Pico-Banana-400K is to establish "a robust foundation for training and benchmarking the next generation of text-guided image editing models." The complete dataset is freely available for non-commercial research use on GitHub, so developers can use it to train more capable image editing AI.
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching.
In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature relocated volume buttons, an all-black camera plateau, a smaller Dynamic Island, and more, according to design leaks from a known Weibo leaker.
The user known as "Instant Digital" today claimed to share several key details about the design of the foldable iPhone:
The volume buttons will be located on the top edge of the device, aligned to the...
Anyone who has used any of the AI tools knows none of them are ready for Prime Time. None of them. That is why I always say it's just echo-chamber nonsense to say Apple or anyone is behind in this nacent quickly evolving open source media. That ALL of them have been RUSHED to market without adequate testing goes without saying.
There is immense room for improvement with just the low hanging fruit of better training data. And here we see Apple showing they certainly know that.
Anyone who has used any of the AI tools knows none of them are ready for Prime Time. None of them. That is why I always say it's just echo-chamber nonsense to say Apple or anyone is behind in this nacent quickly evolving open source media. That ALL of them have been RUSHED to market without adequate testing goes without saying.
There is immense room for improvement with just the low hanging fruit of better training data. And here we see Apple showing they certainly know that.
And as someone who uses AI tools everyday for work, you cannot be more incorrect.
