Google has expanded access to AI-mode Canvas to all users in the United States in English, after first introducing the feature last year as part of a Google Labs experiment.
Canvas in AI mode is designed to help users organize and plan their projects and do deeper research. This feature allows users to draft documents and create custom tools within Google Search, the company said in a blog post.
Google previously suggested using Canvas for tasks such as uploading class notes and other sources to create study guides. This feature can also perform other tasks, such as converting research reports into web pages, quizzes, and audio summaries. This has some overlap with Google’s research tool Notebook LM.
Users can write their ideas on Canvas and watch it generate code that transforms those ideas into shareable apps and games. You can also use this feature to improve drafts of your creative writing or get feedback on your projects.
Canvas is already available on Gemini, and 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.
Now that Canvas is available to all users in the US through Google’s AI search feature, known as AI Mode, more people will be able to experience Canvas, even those who haven’t yet tried Gemini’s features. This is one of Google’s advantages in the AI race. The reach of Google Search allows Google to put your products in front of billions of users.
To use Canvas, select the new Canvas option from the Tools menu (+) in AI mode and write what you want to create. This opens a Canvas side panel where users can compile information from the web and Google’s knowledge graph. When building a prototype or app, users can test functionality by chatting with Gemini, toggle to see the underlying code, and adjust how the app works.
Canvas competes with similar tools from competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic. However, while ChatGPT’s Canvas feature is automatically triggered based on a query, Google and Anthropic’s Claude require more direct interaction. Both also allow users to get writing support and turn ideas into projects.
