Canva launches its own design model, adds new AI features to the platform

On Thursday, Canva, the creative suite powerhouse, introduced its own design model that enhances its platform's capabilities by understanding various layers and formats. This launch is accompanied by a host of new product features, including updates to its AI assistant and enhancements to its coding tool for creating widgets that extract repeatable insights. Canva's new foundational model is designed to generate editable designs, moving beyond the traditional flat image approach. This innovation allows users to work with layers and objects, making it versatile for diverse formats such as social media posts, presentations, whiteboards, and websites. Robert Kawalsky, Canva's global head of product, explained in a conversation with TechCrunch that the evolution from flat images to more sophisticated omni models enables users to refine their designs through prompts while maintaining control over the creative process. Earlier in the year, Canva unveiled Canva AI, an assistant with a chat-style interface designed to help users generate media items from prompts. This assistant is now accessible across the platform, including the design and elements tabs. Users can engage with the AI in comments for suggestions on text or media while collaborating on projects. Moreover, this tool has advanced to create 3D objects and mimic the artistic style of existing designs. Canva's recent enhancements also include the integration of its spreadsheet product with the ability to create mini apps using prompts, allowing users to leverage data for widget creation. In a strategic move, Canva acquired MagicBrief, an ad analytics firm, earlier this year, and is launching a comprehensive marketing platform called Canva Grow. This platform utilizes AI for both content creation and analytical insights, facilitating direct ad publishing on platforms like Meta. In addition to these AI advancements, Canva is rolling out new features, including form creation for client input, which replaces the need for Google Forms. The platform is also introducing email design functionalities, enabling users to craft templates and layouts for marketing campaigns or package tracking that align with their brand aesthetics. To bolster its competitive edge against Adobe, Canva acquired the professional design tool Affinity last year and is now offering it for free. The company is also revamping the Affinity interface to unify vector, pixel, and layout design under a single platform, allowing seamless transfers of objects between Affinity and Canva. Users can further utilize Canva AI for generating designs within Affinity, enhancing overall creative synergy.