Figma adds an AI assistant to its collaborative canvas

In recent months, Figma has formed strategic alliances with AI leaders OpenAI and Anthropic, integrating advanced coding tools like Claude Code and Codex into its design platform. Now, the company is introducing its own AI agent, engineered to enhance its collaborative canvas. This new AI assistant enables users to leverage natural language prompts, allowing them to create new designs, modify existing ones, or automate repetitive tasks such as generating variations of current projects. Users can even deploy multiple AI agents simultaneously, each handling different tasks. Figma asserts that this assistant is adept at understanding design contexts and elements, thanks to its specialized AI models tailored for design applications. Figma’s Chief Design Officer, Loredana Crisan, emphasized the evolution of software development, stating, "As building software becomes more accessible, the focus shifts to establishing direction—determining what to create, how it should function, and the overall user experience. Teams can now engage with AI agents on a shared canvas to explore ideas, visualize edge cases, and collaboratively refine concepts without getting bogged down by tedious details." Initially, this AI functionality will be rolled out in Figma Design, with plans to expand its availability across other products in the future. Figma aims to bridge the gap between design and coding within its applications. Amid fierce competition from platforms like Canva, Adobe, Flora, Krea, and Dessn, Figma has also made strategic moves, including acquiring the node-based design tool Weavy and enhancing its image editing capabilities. Despite concerns over AI potentially disrupting the design workforce and the tools they rely on, Figma continues to thrive, reporting a remarkable revenue of $333.4 million in the first quarter of 2026—a 46% increase compared to the previous year.