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ZDNET's key takeaways
A survey found many users prefer Gemini for creating images.
It dominates both personal and enterprise use.
Use cases for AI images and video differ widely.
By now, there's a high likelihood that you've used Google Gemini, Midjourney, or Stable Diffusion for AI image generation, or Google Veo, Kling, or MiniMax Hailuo for AI video creation. But which is the most popular, and why?
Also: Gemini is gaining fast on ChatGPT in one particular way, according to new data
The Artificial Analysis's State of Generation survey polled 300 developers and creators during Q3 of 2025 (June to September) to understand personal and enterprise use of AI-powered image and video creation. The survey was conducted before OpenAI's Sora 2 and the OpenAI Video API were released.
The tool users prefer (and why)
At a glance, 74% of respondents use Google Gemini for image creation, followed by OpenAI's GPT Image (64%) and Black Forest Labs' Flux (37%). Google Gemini continues to lead both personal (77%) and enterprise (68%) use for AI image creation, and Google's Veo was the top choice for AI video creation for both personal (67%) and enterprise (72%) use.
These results align with recent data from Similarweb that found web traffic to Gemini is gaining on ChatGPT. ZDNET asked users what they prefer about Gemini: One respondent said that Gemini's integration "with tools such as Gmail or Google Docs means that my workflow from research through to content creation is much more fluid." Another noted that she prefers Gemini for "integrated, multimodal work."
Also: This new Gemini trick takes your presentation ideas and instantly brings them to life - here's how
In late August, Google DeepMind released its popular "nano banana" image model for free within Gemini, which could contribute to Gemini's popularity in these results.
Popular uses for AI-generated media
The survey suggests that using AI to generate images is more popular than using it to create videos, and that using AI-generated images and videos for personal use is more common than for enterprise purposes. Surveyed respondents use AI-generated images for personal use by integrating them into their creative workflow (53%), while 39% of respondents use AI-generated videos for the same reason.
Also: Are Sora 2 and other AI video tools risky to use? Here's what a legal scholar says
Out of surveyed organizations, 44% use AI-generated image creation in their production workflows, and 39% use AI video generators for the same reason.
According to the survey, AI image and video creators who create content for personal use mainly generate AI images for "small, one-off creations" (81%), and 77% use AI videos for the same reason. However, more respondents who use AI image and video generators for personal use prefer AI video generators for "storyboarding, special effects, and short-form promotional clips" (63%), compared to AI-generated images (52%).
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Surveyed organizations prefer AI video generators for advertising purposes (55%), compared to using AI image generators for the same purpose (42%). Regarding which AI image and video models to lease organization-wide, surveyed organizations cite higher-quality outputs (82%), accurate prompt adherence (73%), and lower total cost (55%) as the most significant drivers behind their choice of AI image generator.
AI in work - and play
AI use is becoming increasingly widespread throughout personal, everyday tasks and in the workplace. For personal use, people utilize AI image, video, and text generators to create personalized artwork, promotional videos, and to assist with tasks such as homework, recipe preparation, or drafting text messages.
Also: The best AI image generators of 2025: Gemini, ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more
At work, organizations rely on products from companies like Google and Microsoft to deploy AI agents, increasing productivity by automating scheduling, assisting developer workflows, and generating real-time meeting notes.
AI tools for image generation and editing are some of the most common and can be the most time-saving. For example, Photoshop just dropped several new AI features to ease the editing process.
If you're looking for more AI image tools to use at work, Google just released a free experimental tool for ad creation aimed at small businesses. For other AI-powered visual and design help beyond images and video, Gemini can also help you create presentations.