GoKawiilIn the age of generative AI, it seems like every tech company has become an AI company overnight. Creative companies aren't immune, as Canva proved this week with the launch of what it calls Canva AI 2.0 at its annual Canva Create conference.
Canva is no stranger to AI. It's been investing in proprietary AI design models for years and acquiring AI companies such as Leonardo to incorporate into its graphic design program. But this is the strongest sign yet that the company is betting its future on AI. Canva's journey with AI has led to a "really significant shift," Robert Kawalsky, global head of product, told CNET.
"We've actually flipped the platform on its head," Kawalsky said. "Over the last few years, Canva was a design platform with AI tools, and it's really now an AI platform with design tools and design capabilities as part of it."
The new Canva AI capabilities extend beyond the graphic and social designs the company is known for. It introduced a host of third-party integrations, called connectors, so you can access Canva's AI on Slack, Notion, Zoom, Google apps and more. The idea is to interact with Canva's AI like you would with ChatGPT or Copilot, if that's what you want.
You can have Canva's AI prep for and summarize meetings, create files and search the web for insights. You can also schedule it to do agentic tasks in advance, such as send you reminders at the beginning and end of your work days. It's also upgrading its previous AI launches that are more business-focused, including its AI coding, spreadsheet and email assistant.
Canva's updated AI experiences are launching now in a research preview, with broader access rolling out over the next few weeks.
Canva has always been known for being a more beginner-friendly alternative to creative software programs such as Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. It made sense when Canva dove into creative AI, which is often touted as a way for non-artistic or beginner creators to make professional-looking content quickly.
But creative AI is controversial, especially because many models are built using the work of artists without their permission or compensation. There's no one-click button to turn off Canva AI, which some creators might want. But you can adjust your privacy settings to control the access Canva AI has to your data and your work.