Canva’s AI assistant can now call various tools to make designs for you

Canva is stepping up its game in the AI space with an upgraded version of its AI assistant, designed to streamline the design process for users. This innovative tool allows individuals to describe their design needs through text prompts, enabling the AI to select and utilize the appropriate tools to generate editable designs. This update is particularly beneficial for design professionals who seek a consistent and automated workflow for creating content and media assets. The AI assistant employs a layer-based approach for design creation, offering users the flexibility to modify various elements of their projects. As Canva focuses on integrating this AI tool into everyday workflows, it also continues to enhance its features, including image and website generation. In a competitive landscape, Canva is not alone in pushing the boundaries of AI-assisted design. Adobe recently introduced its Firefly AI assistant, which integrates with its suite of applications, while Figma has incorporated AI support into its platform. Canva's co-founder and COO, Cliff Obrecht, emphasized that while many companies strive to unify workflows, their users often prefer to complete final edits and publishing on Canva. "Many small businesses rely on Canva for their entire workflow from start to finish," Obrecht stated. Canva's enterprise segment is also thriving, boasting an impressive year-on-year growth of 100%. Recently valued at approximately $42 billion, the company is anticipating a public offering next year. In this latest update, Canva is introducing integrations with popular platforms such as Slack, Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, and Zoom. These integrations allow the AI assistant to gain context by analyzing emails, conversations, and meeting data. Additionally, Canva is rolling out a web research capability, enabling the AI to browse the internet to assist users further. The assistant will also feature scheduling capabilities, allowing users to set up recurring tasks, although it will only create drafts for review before posting. Canva is refining its existing AI tools as well. The AI code generator has been upgraded to import HTML, and users can now describe the types of spreadsheets they wish to create using text prompts. The company claims significant improvements in efficiency, stating that its Lucid Origin image-generation model is now five times faster and thirty times cheaper, while its 12V image-to-video model is seven times faster and seventeen times cheaper. The new Canva AI 2.0 is currently launching in research preview, with plans for broader availability in the coming weeks.