Thinking of Canva only as a beginner-friendly graphic design program in 2025 would be a mistake. The Australian-based creative software company has become a staple for its more than 230 million monthly active creators in nearly every industry. Now, Canva is doubling down on generative AI and, in a surprising twist, embracing its STEM side.
Canva is introducing a conversational Gen AI chatbot called Canva AI, the company announced at its annual creative conference on Thursday. You can chat with the AI to get design advice, start a project and create AI images with its Dream Lab and Magic Studio artificial intelligence tools. Canva is also introducing what it calls The Visual Suite 2.0, which lets you combine multiple templates/files -- such whiteboards, social media mock-ups and presentations -- all in one project file.
Canva also is using AI to power two new features that are a big departure from its design-centric background. Now, you can use Canva's AI to help you write code.
"We see coding as a real natural extension of this idea of making capabilities that used to be reserved for the few, available to everyone," Robert Kawalsky, head of product at Canva, said in an interview. "I think the key is bringing the same hallmark simplicity that we brought to design to this experience."
@cnetdotcom Canva Code helps make coding less scary with generative AI that helps you build and design a website. #canvacreate #canva #coding #webdesign #designtok #techtok #ai #genai ♬ original sound - CNET
In another first, Canva is also introducing a dedicated spreadsheet called Canva Sheets. Previously, if you wanted to import Excel or spreadsheet data, you needed to create a document and add a table. Now, you'll be able to manage and visualize data in Canva Sheets with more true data management tools.
@cnetdotcom Canva just announced Sheets at Canva Create: Uncharted. #canvacreate #canva #creatives #ai #graphicdesign #designers #techtok #designtok ♬ original sound - CNET
There also will be new AI insights in Canva Sheets that allow you to interact with your data. You can ask it questions and it will analyze your data to highlight findings. You can also ask the AI to write formulas for you, something that could be super helpful if you're not an Excel wizard. Canva's text-generation tool Magic Write is also integrated in Sheets to help generate text in bulk.
Canva's AI policy automatically opts you out of training -- meaning Canva will not train on your content unless you decide to opt in. You own the AI-generated content you make. You can read the full privacy policy and AI terms of use for more information.
Generative AI has increasingly crept into creative software like Canva. Last year, Canva raised its team prices, up to 300% in some cases, "to reflect the current price of the plan and the value of our expanded product experience," Canva told The Verge at the time. Kawalsky said there were no pricing updates in store for this batch of AI updates.
For more, check out how to use AI to write a resume and design a presentation.
