Google has made Canvas in AI Mode available to all U.S. users in English, following its initial release as a Google Labs experiment. Designed to aid in project planning and research, Canvas now enables users to draft documents or create custom tools in Google Search, as per a company blog post.
Previously, Google suggested using Canvas for activities like organizing a study guide with class notes. It can also transform research reports into web pages, quizzes, or audio overviews, similar to Google’s Notebook LM tool.
With Canvas, users can describe an idea and see it turned into shareable apps or games through code generation. It also refines creative writing drafts and offers project feedback.
Canvas is accessible in Gemini, providing Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers with the latest Gemini 3 model and a broader 1 million-token context for complex projects.
Currently, more U.S. users are accessing Canvas via Google’s AI search feature, AI Mode, even if they’re unfamiliar with Gemini. Google’s reach in AI is bolstered by its ability to present products to billions of users via Google Search.
To access Canvas, users click the Canvas option from the tool menu in AI Mode, describe their desired creation, and use the Canvas panel to compile information from the web and Google’s Knowledge Graph. Users can also prototype apps, view and refine code, and interact with Gemini.
Canvas competes with other tools from OpenAI and Anthropic. ChatGPT’s Canvas activates based on queries, while Google and Anthropic’s Claude require more direct user interaction, both offering writing aid and project development.