- Imagine a less annoying version of Clippy, eager to assist you with writing and coding. On the fourth day of OpenAI’s 12 Days of Updates, Canvas has been rolled out of beta for all ChatGPT users.
- This new feature focuses on collaboration, enabling users to edit text and code seamlessly.
On Day 4 of OpenAI‘s 12 Days of Updates, the aim is to make ChatGPT more collaborative with the general release of Canvas. Initially introduced a few months ago in beta, this feature places AI chatbot responses on a shared, editable page.
Think of it as Microsoft Word’s Clippy, but powered by advanced AI—and without the annoying animated avatar taking up space. The Canvas feature has numerous applications, especially with the upgrades added for this broader release.
With Canvas, you can collaborate with ChatGPT on writing and coding projects. Bring your requests for help regarding some writing or editing of text or even code within the Canvas page directly. Then, highlight certain parts of the chatbots’ responses or requests that you would like to modify, and it would adjust them as such.
Instead of copying the static response elsewhere for changes, you can edit directly in the Canvas interface. You can even comment on specific parts of the AI’s response to suggest how it should change. It’s like working with a human co-author or co-programmer in real-time—but much faster.
If you upload a large piece of pre-written text into Canvas, the AI will analyze it and offer options like “Get Suggestions” or “Help Me Write” through pop-up buttons. Before the AI initiates any changes, you need to assign specific edits—this ensures that you stay in control of your content. Rapport suggestions and ideas but not an templatized total rewiring: if you so prefer, ChatGPT could also be asked to comment on one’s work without changing it.
Canvas for Code and Custom GPTs
Programmers eager for AI assistance can use Canvas to streamline their edits. The AI can debug, provide improvement ideas, or comment on your program, just as it does with text. This even extends to emojis! Simply paste code into Canvas, and the chatbot will automatically switch to code editor mode.
The most significant upgrade for the general release is that Canvas can now edit and translate code into Python. A new “Run” button allows you to execute written code and view the output in a console window. Any errors are flagged and identified, and the AI will suggest fixes or even offer to resolve them for you.
Another exciting aspect of the updated Canvas is its integration with custom GPTs—specialized versions of the AI chatbot that you can create yourself. Now, Canvas can be embedded into a custom GPT, opening endless personalization possibilities.
Picture a tailor-made GPT that edits short stories and gives detailed feedback while the user writes. Think of a data-analysis GPT that uses Canvas to run Python scripts. Such combinations of Canvas and customized GPTs provide an extremely powerful tool for creativity and efficiency.
If you want to play around with it, Canvas is here and is made available to all ChatGPT users in its first version and non-beta release.
