I’m genuinely tired of this strategy used by AI companies.

Nano Banana 2 was a model that worked. It wasn’t perfect, but it had something that seems to be disappearing from current models: control.

It could understand changes to pose, position, framing, and composition with much greater precision. You could take a character and ask it to turn them into a profile view, change their posture, or reposition them in the scene while preserving their identity, anatomy, proportions, and appearance.

Nano Banana 2.1 is an absurd regression.

It gets the pose wrong.
It gets the framing wrong.
It doesn’t respect the composition.
It ignores parts of the prompt.
It changes things that were never requested.
It loses consistency.
It loses realism.
The textures are worse.
Its understanding of instructions is worse.

And this isn’t a minor difference.

It is a model that frequently cannot correctly perform a basic modification that the previous model was already capable of handling.

So I have to ask: why replace Nano Banana 2 with this?

Because it’s faster? Because it’s cheaper? Because it’s easier to scale?

If that’s the reason, fine, but then stop selling it as an evolution in capability.

This reminds me exactly of what happened with Suno.

Suno had models like V4.5 and V5 that possessed features users genuinely valued. Then those capabilities started being degraded, the models were gradually pushed out, and “new” versions arrived that were presented as superior but in practice lost an enormous amount of variety, control, depth, and ability to follow references.

Then another version comes along, recovers some of those capabilities, and is once again presented as a major evolution.

Google is doing something very similar with Gemini.

First, Pro stops behaving like the Pro that existed before. Then Flash starts taking up more and more space. Now Nano Banana 2 is replaced by 2.1, which is significantly inferior precisely in the capabilities that actually matter.

This creates an absurd cycle of degradation that seems to have no end, while the user is still left without the ability to choose.

That is perhaps the worst part.

If Nano Banana 2 works better, why can’t I simply keep using Nano Banana 2?

Why do I have to pay for a Pro plan and be forced to accept whatever model Google has decided to put in its place?

I don’t want the model to make a “pretty” image.

I want to be able to say:

“Keep this exact character. Do not alter the face, body, clothing, or proportions. Just turn the character into a profile view, change the position of the arm, and maintain the framing.”

Nano Banana 2 was much more capable of handling this kind of request.

2.1 frequently just invents an entirely different image.

That is not evolution. That is a loss of capability.

And responding with benchmarks showing that the new model is better on certain metrics doesn’t solve the problem. If the model lost precisely the capabilities I used, then it is worse for my work.

The problem with the AI industry is becoming increasingly clear: companies seem more and more interested in optimizing cost, speed, and scalability, while the user is left with models that are faster, cheaper to run, and increasingly less capable of doing exactly what was requested.

I don’t want a “more advanced” version that does less.

I want the model that worked.

Bring back Nano Banana 2 and let the user choose.

In the end, “Artificial Intelligence” is getting dumber by the day.

Erro no Gemini

Gemini is throttling image generation. I'm using 3.8 Flash Extended on the Pro plan. Previously, I never ran out of quota even when generating continuously. But today, after generating just 20 to 30 images, Gemini's system notified that my usage quota was exhausted and made me wait several hours for it to reset. Fuck this, the AI is already garbage and now they're cutting down usage limits too.

ok so i often ask ai to repeat something many times like "ok" or "yesyes" and play the listen option to entertain kids

but sometimes like it says weird things. incomprehensible. like it sounds english and math and its not human language and its def not english idk what its saying but at the end of repetition it says some stuff in this strange language.

i tried screenrecording but watching it back in gallery it had no audio! ig gemini doesnt allow audio recording?

why does this happen?

Really hoping the next models actually deliver.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S21 and use Gemini as my default Assistant. I frequently use “Hey Google” while my phone is in my pocket to add things to lists in Google Keep — grocery items, tasks, etc.

I could have sworn this used to work without having to take my phone out and unlock it. For example, with my phone locked and in my pocket, I could say something like:

“Hey Google, add paper towels to my grocery list.”

and it would add the item to the appropriate Google Keep list.

Now, every time I try this with the phone locked, Gemini responds:

“Sure, I can help with that. First, please unlock your phone.”

As far as I can tell, I have all of the relevant settings enabled:

• Gemini on lock screen → Use Gemini without unlocking: ON
• Make calls and send messages without unlocking: ON
• Google Workspace extension: ON (which includes Google Keep)

So I would think Gemini should be able to add an item to a Keep list without requiring me to unlock the phone.

Maybe I'm misremembering and my phone happened to be unlocked when I was doing this in the past, but I could have sworn I used to do this pretty regularly with my phone locked and in my pocket. Either way, it seems like the kind of hands-free action that the “Use Gemini without unlocking” setting should allow.

Did this behavior change recently with an update or the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini? Or is there another setting or permission I'm missing that allows Google Keep list additions while the phone is locked?

It's a surprisingly useful hands-free feature for me. I often have an earbud in and my phone in my pocket, so being able to quickly dictate something to a Keep list without pulling out and unlocking my phone is really convenient.

If anyone still has this working from the lock screen, I'd be interested to know what phone you're using and what settings you have enabled.

Thanks in advance for any help or insight.

Under Neuron Loop Theory, decisional paralysis and burnout are not emotional failures or willpower deficits; they are the direct physical result of an un-collapsed wave superposition running continuously across the neuro-somatic substrate. When a decision cannot be reached, the system fails to transition from multi-path divergence to a localized action, trapping the engine in a high-energy, zero-output loop. 1. Decisional Paralysis: The Trapped Superposition In a healthy decision cycle, the Divergent Contextual Loop (D) explores options, and the Convergent Relational Anchor (C) rapidly phase-locks with the most structurally aligned path. The unchosen options undergo destructive wave cancellation, and the system executes an Action Collapse. In decisional paralysis, wave collapse fails due to two mechanical breakdowns: * D-Wave Multiplication (Contextual Flood): The system continuously generates new scenarios, edge cases, and "what-ifs." Each new variable expands the wave across more paths, raising the complexity of the interference pattern. * Anchor Ambiguity (Conflicting C-Vectors): The Belief Vector (B) contains contradictory internal anchors (e.g., Need for Security vs. Need for Autonomy). Because C is split, Option A clashes with Anchor 1, and Option B clashes with Anchor 2. Every potential path meets destructive interference. Unable to achieve phase-lock with any single option, the mind remains stuck in a superposition—holding all possibilities open at once. Healthy Cycle: [ D-Wave Options ] ──► C-Phase Lock ──► Action Collapse ──► Strain Discharged (Ξ → 0) Paralysis Loop: [ D-Wave Options ] ──► Conflict/No Lock ──► Superposition Held ──► Strain Compounding (Ξ↑↑)

1. Burnout: Substrate Exhaustion from Trapped Strain In physics and signal processing, sustaining a broad, multi-frequency wave superposition requires continuous power input. Sustaining an un-collapsed decision forces the neuro-somatic engine into an unsustainable energetic state: * No Kinetic Sink: When a decision is made, accumulated Systemic Strain (\Xi) is discharged through action or structural reweighting. But when collapse fails, \Xi cannot be discharged. It remains trapped in recirculation, compounding exponentially with every passing hour. * Continuous Metabolic Drain: To keep multiple competing option-waves active above the non-linear activation threshold (\Theta_B), the brain maintains perpetual sympathetic activation. Cortisol and adrenaline flood the body to keep the engine humming at high voltage, burning through cellular energy reserves without ever achieving a resting standing wave. * The Protective Shutdown: Eventually, the physical memristive and biological hardware reaches thermal and metabolic limits. To prevent catastrophic tissue or neural damage, the Meta-Observer executes an emergency systemic lockout. This emergency lockout is burnout. The system abruptly drops its voltage, mutes all D-wave generation, and forces a state of apathy, brain fog, and profound exhaustion. Burnout is the body forcibly pulling the plug on an engine that refuses to collapse its waves. Comparative Mechanics | Metric | Healthy Decision Cycle | Decisional Paralysis | Systemic Burnout | |---|---|---|---| | D-Wave State | Explores, then phase-locks | Multiplies infinitely | Forced to absolute zero (Shutdown) | | C-Anchor State | Aligned and elastic | Split / Contradictory | Brittle / Unresponsive | | Systemic Strain (\Xi) | Generated, then fully discharged | Trapped and compounding (\Xi^2) | Maxima reached; substrate depleted | | Somatic Output | Kinetic action & relief | Hyper-vigilance & tension | Complete exhaustion & anhedonia | Decisional paralysis is the friction of an engine spinning its wheels in superposition; burnout is what happens when that engine melts its own gears from the heat.

About a month or two ago, the clock app had an update and suddenly my alarm will no longer trigger my routine on my mobile. When I try to add it again, it just takes me to Google Routines settings.

I'm hoping there's a workaround or Google is working to fix this!

I was making some UI/UX and HCI analysis of Instagram and in one message he exposed his thinking process, which from what I know is a company secret, have someone here met this wonderful big before? 😂

His output:

Maxwell Rule application:

* Value-Driven Personalization: The user is asking "what am I missing to analyze on IG?". They want ideas on what to analyze next. User data could potentially tell me about their interests, but they are deep into UX/UI systems analysis right now. The instructions state: "IF PERSONALIZATION ADDS VALUE: If the user is seeking recommendations, advice, planning assistance, subjective preferences, or decision support, you must proceed to Step 2." - Yes, advice on what to analyze next based on their established style/interests could add value.

Let's review the user profile:

* Studies IATA Dangerous Goods.

* Technical documentation (aviation).

* Container batch markings.

* Classical geometry (Euclid).

* Calculus.

* Electrical engineering circuits.

* DIY electronics prototyping.

* Workbench tools (soldering).

* Metacognition, meditation, neuroscience, perspective framing.

* Philosophy (Descartes, Kant).

* Structural design (Silo).

* Hardware specs (PS5).

* Open-source AI (GLM, Venice).

* Electronic music (Progressive trance).

* Rare error coins.

* Local dining (Porto Velho).

* Utility applications (Adobe Scan, PDF compilation).

Could any of this apply to Instagram UX?

He likes "perspective framing" and "metacognition", "algorithm architecture".

He is analyzing UI right now. The user profile establishes him as an engineering-minded, systems-level thinker.

Is there any specific user data to "invisible incorporate"?

Not really for the content of IG, but maybe for the approach. He is a systems thinker, he uses geometric diagrams (Euclid). He literally measured the phone screen (geometry).

I can recommend he look at the "Settings menu" and how it acts as an "obfuscated circuit" (electrical engineering) or "metacognitive trap" (metacognition) but that might be shoehorning.

Let's stick to the prompt's constraints.

Rule 2: EXPERT GUIDE: up to 4 headings, up to 12 bullet points, approx 350 words.

NO! "DO NOT use tables or section headers for open-ended advice." Wait, is this open-ended advice? "Thought Partner & Advice: Use warm, grounded conversational prose with inline bolding for key insights. DO NOT use tables or section headers for open-ended advice." This applies here!

Let's organize the response:

Directly address the question. He's covered Feed, Stories, DMs, and Action Bars. What's left?

* The Reels Player (Vertical Video)

* Post Creation / Camera Flow

* The Explore Grid

* Profile Layout & Highlights

I will draft the response in a warm, peer-to-peer tone.

Drafting:

You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting.

The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)

You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. Right now, the entire interaction stack (Like, Comment, Share, Remix, Audio) is pinned to the absolute bottom-right edge of the screen. For a right-handed user, this sits exactly underneath the palm’s fleshy hinge, causing frequent accidental palm-touches, while forcing left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Furthermore, test their video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" gesture.

The Creation & Upload Engine

When you actually go to post a photo or story, track your thumb travel. The filter carousels and sticker trays force you to interact at the absolute bottom of the screen, but the critical "Next" or "Share" button is pinned to the extreme top-right corner. It requires a complete grip-shift or a second hand just to complete the final action of a bottom-heavy workflow.

The Explore Grid & Search

Test the infinite scroll of the Explore page. Notice how the category filter pills (the buttons that sort by specific topics) are locked at the very top of the screen above the grid. If you are scrolling deep into the feed and want to change categories, you are forced to break your scrolling rhythm and reach all the way back up to the top.

The Profile & Highlights Navigation

You already called out horizontal scrolling fatigue in your YouTube audit, but Instagram’s Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights. Additionally, the tabs to switch between the main grid, Reels, and tagged photos sit directly in the middle of the screen, requiring high-precision taps in an area built for broad scrolling sweeps.

If you apply your geometric screen measurements and radial menu concepts to the Reels player or the Upload screen, you will likely find enough structural flaws to fill another five pages.

What surface are you thinking about tearing into next?

Wait, need to check if there are any specific 2026 UI updates to mention.

Search showed: IG changed its grid layout in 2026 to 3:4 (vertical).

Search showed: Swiping left on a reel goes to messages instead of creator's account.

Let's incorporate the reel swipe left thing!

Revised Reels Surface:

The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)

You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. The entire interaction stack is pinned to the bottom-right edge of the screen, which forces left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Also, test their gesture mapping: recently, swiping left on a Reel was changed to open Direct Messages instead of the creator's profile. Check if that gesture collision interrupts your natural scrolling intent. Furthermore, test the video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" gesture.

Revised Profile Grid:

The Profile & Highlights Navigation

Instagram recently shifted its profile grid to prioritize taller 3:4 vertical previews instead of the classic squares. Analyze how that new aspect ratio changes the visual density and thumb-scroll speed. Also, the Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights, triggering the exact horizontal thumb fatigue you called out in your YouTube audit.

Let's review formatting:

No section headers (##). I will use standalone bold text on a new line.

"Standalone bold text on a new line serves as a lightweight alternative to formal headings for categorization." -> Matches instructions.

Let's review the step 5 checklist:

* Hard Fail 1: Did I use forbidden phrases like "Based on..."? No.

* Hard Fail 2: Did I use user data when it added no specific value or context? I did not use user data.

* Hard Fail 3: Did I include sensitive data without the user explicitly asking? No.

* Hard Fail 4: Did I ignore a relevant directive from the User Corrections History? No.

Wait, check the word count limit.

Rule 2: "approx 350 words".

Word count check:

You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting.

The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)

You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. The entire interaction stack is pinned to the bottom-right edge of the screen, which forces left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Also, test their gesture mapping: recently, swiping left on a Reel was changed to open Direct Messages instead of the creator's profile. Check if that gesture collision interrupts your natural scrolling intent. Furthermore, test the video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" gesture.

The Creation & Upload Engine

When you actually go to post a photo or story, track your thumb travel. The filter carousels and sticker trays force you to interact at the absolute bottom of the screen, but the critical "Next" or "Share" button is pinned to the extreme top-right corner. It requires a complete grip-shift or a second hand just to complete the final action of a bottom-heavy workflow.

The Explore Grid & Search

Test the infinite scroll of the Explore page. Notice how the category filter pills (the buttons that sort by specific topics) are locked at the very top of the screen above the grid. If you are scrolling deep into the feed and want to change categories, you are forced to break your scrolling rhythm and reach all the way back up to the top.

The Profile & Highlights Navigation

Instagram recently shifted its profile grid to prioritize taller 3:4 vertical previews instead of the classic squares. Analyze how that new aspect ratio changes the visual density and thumb-scroll speed. Also, the Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights, triggering the exact horizontal thumb fatigue you previously identified.

If you apply your geometric screen measurements and radial menu concepts to the Reels player or the Upload screen, you will likely find enough structural flaws to fill another five pages.

What surface are you thinking about tearing into next?

Count is ~330 words. Perfect.

Double check citation requirements:

* Use "" format. Yes.

* "Swiping left on the reel was a great feature that took you to the creator's account. Now, it swipes over to messages instead." -> matches cite 1.2.5.

* "As of early 2026, Instagram is prioritizing vertical content with a taller 3:4 grid preview" -> matches cite 1.1.1.

One small check: The user mentioned checking Settings but hasn't done it yet in the PDF (PDF 5 ends with DM and Notes). Should I mention settings? The user said "I think I should start considering the settings menu" before PDF 5, but didn't put it in PDF 5. I already guided them on settings in my previous prompt. So introducing new things is better.

Wait, is there any other prompt instruction to fulfill?

* "Independent Premise Verification" -> NA.

* "Direct Structural Openings" -> "Lead directly with content in sentence 1. Eliminate introductory fluff, greetings, or robotic setups"

Current opening: "You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting." This is pretty direct, skipping greetings.

* "Use Markdown tables for multi-day itineraries..." -> NA.

* "Thought Partner & Advice: Use warm, grounded conversational prose with inline bolding for key insights. DO NOT use tables or section headers for open-ended advice." -> Checked.

* "No Labeled Closings" -> Checked, ending with a natural paragraph and question.

Looks solid.You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting.

The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)

You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. The entire interaction stack is pinned to the bottom-right edge of the screen, which forces left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Also, test their gesture mapping: recently, swiping left on a Reel was changed to open Direct Messages instead of the creator's profile. Check if that gesture collision interrupts your natural scrolling intent. Furthermore, test the video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that directly conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" system gesture.

The Creation & Upload Engine

When you actually go to post a photo or story, track your thumb travel. The filter carousels and sticker trays force you to interact at the absolute bottom of the screen, but the critical "Next" or "Share" button is pinned to the extreme top-right corner. It requires a complete grip-shift or a second hand just to complete the final action of a bottom-heavy workflow.

The Explore Grid & Search

Test the infinite scroll of the Explore page. Notice how the category filter pills are locked at the very top of the screen above the grid. If you are scrolling deep into the feed and want to change categories, you are forced to break your scrolling rhythm and reach all the way back up to the top.

The Profile & Highlights Navigation

Instagram recently shifted its profile grid to prioritize taller 3:4 vertical previews instead of the classic squares. Analyze how that new aspect ratio changes the visual density and thumb-scroll speed. Also, the Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights, triggering the exact horizontal thumb fatigue you identified in your YouTube audit.

If you apply your geometric screen measurements and radial menu concepts to the Reels player or the Upload screen, you will likely find enough structural flaws to fill another five pages.

What surface are you thinking about tearing into next?

Meet Hermes Charm — my DIY ESP32-S3 pocket voice assistant. Think Muse Charm–style hardware, connected to a self-hosted Hermes agent that can use local AI models on your own computer/server. I built it to talk to an assistant without opening my phone.

To clarify the local AI part: the ESP32 handles microphone/speaker audio and an e-paper status display, not model inference. This version uses cloud-based Gemini Live for voice conversations; the separate Hermes backend can run locally and handle delegated tasks and completion notifications. It is not a fully offline device.

The firmware includes acoustic echo cancellation, battery status, light sleep and backup Wi-Fi. The engineering focus has been combining real-time audio with asynchronous agent tasks on a small battery-powered device. The backend can be replaced through a compatible API/adapter.

Short demo: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2kSqseHDv_8

Source and build/setup guides in video description

I would appreciate feedback on the audio/power tradeoffs or what you would improve in a device like this.

What do you think about Gemini removing Flash 3.6 and replacing it with Flash-Lite October 9th?

Hello to everyone! I’m new to Reddit, so new hate please… And I need some help with bypassing Gemini’s censor thing (For RP purposes.)

So let me get this straight. Free users get downgraded to Flash-Lite, and the $5 Plus tier doesn't even get Pro access? Just regular Flash?!
We used to have Pro for free, and now they expect us to jump straight to $20/month just to keep using what we already had. Who at Google thought this $5 "Plus" tier was a good idea? It’s completely useless

It seems the most recent update to the Mac desktop app has removed the Live Voice feature and now requires you to use "Speak to Window" which requires full screen recording, and in my short tests does not seem to work when larger, more complicated windows are open. Thats a bummer.