A new report from app intelligence firm Appfigures reveals that image model releases are significantly boosting the growth of AI mobile apps, generating 6.5 times more downloads than traditional model updates.

For instance, Google’s Gemini saw a surge in downloads to over 22 million in the 28 days following the introduction of its Nano Banana image model. Similarly, ChatGPT added over 12 million installs after launching its GPT-4o image model, which is about 4.5 times more than for previous models.

However, while these visual upgrades are attracting new users, they don’t necessarily translate into increased revenue. For instance, Nano Banana only generated $181,000 in gross consumer spending over the same period, whereas ChatGPT’s GPT-4o model brought in an estimated $70 million.

The report concludes that while image models are a powerful tool for driving app installs and user engagement, they may not always convert to significant financial gains. Nonetheless, the shift towards visual capabilities suggests a growing trend in AI-driven applications catering to users’ demand for more engaging and visually appealing experiences.