There has been a huge pushback from artists regarding the surge in AI design tools and the content used to train generative models, but even so, companies that make software for creative work are to incorporate AI into their toolkits. This is a signal of how quickly AI has become important. Regardless of what the customer says, it is clear that graphic design software makers will not be able to survive without implementing some form of AI.
The latest to double that strategy is Canva. The company said Thursday it is adding new AI features to its platform, including AI assistants, the ability to create apps with prompts, spreadsheet support and AI-powered editing tools.
Bake with AI
Called Canva AI, the company's AI assistants can perform many tasks, from creating images according to your instructions to coming up with design ideas. You can also write copies and create documents.
Also, by tapping on a new tool called Canva Code, the assistant is asked to create mini apps such as interactive maps and custom calculators, allowing it to be integrated into the design. Canva is partnering with Anthropic for this feature, Cameron Adams, co-founder and chief product officer of the Australian design company, told TechCrunch.
Image credit: Canva AI
“For many years, we have encouraged people to create interactive prototypes because static mockups don't really represent the experiences they're trying to create in Canva for their users. We've started seeing teams within Canva using AI for their prototypes.
To be clear, Canva is not the first thing to do. Several startups like Cursor, Bolt.New, Lovable, and Replit have attracted attention with many customers to encourage users to how to create applications. Still, Canva has an incentive to burn such features into software to complement the broader selling points as a service used to design everything from marketing collateral to websites.
Image credits: Canva
Canva is adding new AI features to the Photo Editor. One tool allows users to point and click on artifacts in a photo, while the other is a background generator that explains lighting and layout. This feature set appears to be intended to help them compete with tools like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, and Pixelmator (acquired by Apple last year).
For the Enterprise
Last year, Canva launched an enterprise-centric product to better serve large teams with features like single sign-on and access management tools. Now you're adding a spreadsheet to your mix with Canva sheet.
Image credits: Canva
In addition to the usual spreadsheet functionality, Canva sheets come with a tool called Magic Insights. This is surface insights collected from data on the sheet, as shown in tin. It also has a feature called a Magic Chart. It automatically converts raw numbers into charts with brand-specific graphics and logos.
The company says the Canva sheet supports integrations with HubSpot, Statista, Google Analytics and more.
Artist vs AI dilemma
Companies like Adobe, Canva and Pixlr may be trying to add more value to their products, but the fact remains that bringing AI into design tools is causing tension. Not only are artists worried about their work being used to train AI models without permission, they also pose a real threat to creative design work.
Still, Adams doesn't see this as a conflict of AI and creativity. Rather, he sees this as a moment of growth and opportunity on the ground.
“I think when AI comes, every job will change because there are a variety of tools integrated into all areas of expertise, including design, product management, engineering, marketing, sales,” he said. “I think each job will change and adapt to the help you get from AI tools. We see a huge opportunity,” Adams said.
These changes seem to be here sooner than most expected. Earlier this month, the company fired several technical writing staff nine months after the co-founder asked employees to use the AI app wherever they were. However, Adams said these layoffs have nothing to do with the AI tools the company is building and are the effect of the restructuring.