Google has expanded access to Canvas in AI Mode to all users in the U.S. in English, after first launching the feature as part of its Google Labs experiments last year.
Canvas in AI Mode is designed to help users organize and plan projects or delve into deeper research. The feature now supports the ability to draft documents or create custom tools within Google Search, the company said in a blog post.
Google previously suggested using Canvas for tasks like building a study guide by uploading class notes and other sources; the feature can also complete other tasks such as turning a research report into a web page, quiz, or audio overview, which has some overlap with Google’s research tool Notebook LM.
Users can describe an idea to Canvas and watch as it generates the code to transform that idea into a shareable app or game. The feature can also be used to help refine creative writing drafts and get feedback on projects.
Canvas is already available in Gemini, where Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers have access to the latest model, Gemini 3, and a larger 1 million-token context window for more complex projects.
More people will be exposed to Canvas now that it’s available to all users in the U.S. through Google’s AI search feature known as AI Mode, including those who haven’t yet dabbled with Gemini’s capabilities. That’s one of Google’s advantages in the AI race — the reach of Google Search gives it the power to place its products in front of billions of users.
To use Canvas, users select the new Canvas option from the tool menu (+) while in AI Mode, then describe what they want to create. This opens up a Canvas side panel where users can pull together information from the web and Google’s Knowledge Graph. If building a prototype or app, users can test the functionality, toggle to see the underlying code, and refine how the app works by chatting with Gemini.
Canvas competes with similar tools from rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. However, ChatGPT’s Canvas feature is triggered automatically based on the query, while Google and Anthropic’s Claude require more direct interaction. Both also allow users to get help with writing or turn ideas into projects.
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