Canva is significantly expanding its platform with a robust set of AI-driven capabilities, emphasizing that AI is fundamental to the future of creative work—despite ongoing reservations from artists. The design giant unveiled a significant update to its Visual Suite, combining productivity and creative elements into a unified workspace that includes generative AI, coding tools, spreadsheets, and improved photo editing.
Canva AI, an assistant designed to help with the creative process, is one of the most notable features. It may generate images, write copy, offer design suggestions, and even help create presentations or marketing materials. Central to this push is Canva Code, an interactive coding assistant that lets users build apps—like calculators or interactive maps—through single prompts. These apps can be inserted directly into designs, reducing the need for separate coding tools.
This growth extends beyond design. Canva is now competing with the productivity giant by introducing Canva Sheets, a spreadsheet application packed with features like Magic Insights and Magic Charts. This allows users to import data from platforms like Google Analytics or HubSpot, instantly analyze it, and visualize it using brand-specific charts, all without leaving the Canva ecosystem.
Canva's new Photo Editor also includes features that rival Adobe's tools. Users can click to remove or replace elements in an image or use AI to generate context-aware backdrops that fit lighting and layout—a significant improvement for creators looking for speed and versatility.
While these changes position Canva as a cross between Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Workspace, they also fuel existing disputes over AI in the creative sectors. Critics argue that such tools can threaten jobs and exploit artists' work used to train models. However, Canva's leadership sees this move as an evolution rather than a threat, stressing that AI will enhance, not replace, human creativity.
With over 230 million users and an eye on enterprise teams, Canva's bold moves create a future in which design, data, and interactivity coexist. Whether users embrace this AI-powered direction or push back remains to be seen—but the transformation is already underway.