Google transforms chatbot into a full-fledged work environment
Google is significantly expanding the functionality of its AI assistant Gemini, introducing a new interactive environment Canvas, which marks an important step in transforming chatbots into full-fledged tools for increasing productivity.
On Tuesday, the company announced the launch of Canvas – an interactive space that allows Gemini users to create, edit, and share programming and text projects. The functionality clearly echoes similar solutions from competitors – Canvas from OpenAI for ChatGPT and Artifacts from Anthropic.
“Canvas is designed for seamless interaction with Gemini,” said Gemini product director Dave Citron in a blog post provided to TechCrunch. “With these new features, Gemini becomes an even more effective tool for bringing your ideas to life.”
The new functionality is available in both the web version and the Gemini mobile app. Users can create expanded messages with subsequent editing and fine-tuning. Canvas provides specialized tools for adjusting the tone, length, and formatting of individual parts of the text.
“For example, you can highlight a paragraph and ask Gemini to make it more concise, professional, or informal,” explains Citron. “If you want to work on content collaboratively with others, it can be exported to Google Docs with one click.”
Special attention is paid to features for developers: Canvas allows generating and previewing HTML, React code, and web application prototypes. Users can request changes in the preview, and Canvas will automatically update the result.
The launch of Canvas reflects a growing trend among leading AI companies to transform their chatbot platforms into full-scale productivity tools. Specialized workspaces offer more precise control compared to traditional text interfaces and provide the ability to preview code in real-time.
