Canva has launched its first proprietary AI design model, signaling a major leap in how users create and edit designs across its platform. The new model, trained on Canva’s extensive library of design elements, enables the generation of editable, layered designs — a significant advancement from traditional flat image outputs.
According to the company, this foundational model can work seamlessly across formats such as social media posts, presentations, whiteboards, and websites, allowing creators to move effortlessly between design types.
“We started by creating flat images with diffusion models. Omni models have taken that a step further, where you’re able to edit those flat images with a lot of sophistication through prompting,” said Robert Kawalsky, Canva’s Global Head of Product, in a statement to TechCrunch. “What we’ve found is that people want to start with a prompt and get far — but also be able to iterate directly themselves.”
AI Assistant and Smart Features Get a Major Upgrade
Canva is extending its AI assistant — now known as Canva AI — across the entire platform, making it available in design canvases and element tabs. The assistant now supports collaborative mentions, meaning users can tag the AI in comments to request media or text suggestions while co-editing a project.
Additionally, Canva AI can now generate 3D objects, replicate art styles, and provide smarter design recommendations. The tool aims to simplify visual creation for both professionals and non-designers by combining intuitive editing with AI-driven precision.
Earlier this year, The platform introduced a spreadsheet product and a prompt-based app builder. These tools are now connected, allowing users to create widgets from spreadsheet data — a move that turns data into dynamic, visual insights directly within the design ecosystem.
Introducing Canva Grow — A Full-Stack AI Marketing Platform
In a move toward becoming a full-service creative and marketing hub, Canva also launched Canva Grow, an AI-powered marketing suite built on its design and analytics infrastructure. Leveraging the company’s recent acquisition of MagicBrief, an ad analytics startup, Canva Grow enables marketers to both create and measure ad performance in one place.
The platform supports direct publishing to major ad networks like Meta, and uses AI to analyze performance data, helping businesses optimize campaigns in real time.
New Tools: Forms, Emails, and Enhanced Affinity Integration
Beyond AI, Canva announced a suite of new product features:
- Canva Forms, a new tool for collecting user input — positioning Canva as a direct competitor to Google Forms.
- Email design templates, enabling users to craft marketing and transactional emails that align with their brand identity.
- Free access to Affinity, the professional-grade design suite Canva acquired last year to rival Adobe.
The company is also redesigning the Affinity interface, merging vector, pixel, and layout capabilities into a unified workspace. Designers can now move projects fluidly between Affinity and Canva, with full AI support to generate images and concepts inside both environments.
A Step Toward a Smarter Creative Future
With its own AI design model and deeper integration across creative, data, and marketing workflows, The app is positioning itself at the center of the global design ecosystem. By blending professional-grade capabilities with accessible AI tools, the Australian company continues to bridge the gap between creativity, productivity, and intelligence — setting a new benchmark for design platforms worldwide.
