Google has unveiled an extension to its Gemini AI system that allows users to work better with the results of artificial intelligence.
The “Canvas” function now offers a new interactive area in Gemini in which the content generated by the AI can be edited and optimized. The new feature will initially be introduced in English. Other languages supported by Gemini, such as German, are set to follow soon.
Not just “prompts”
Normally, Gemini, ChatGPT and other AI programs are controlled with “prompts”. These are text inputs that are directed to the AI in order to receive a specific answer or information. It can be a question, an instruction or a description. The clearer and more precise the prompt is formulated, the more accurate and helpful the AI’s response will be.
With “Canvas”, this operating concept is extended by an interactive editing option. A “prompt” is still used for a first draft, for example “Create a plan for learning the periodic table of chemical elements”. To prompt the system to make changes to the generated content in a second step, a second prompt is no longer required, which would generate a second text in response.
Interactive change
Change requests can be made directly in the first result. If, for example, the words “for my 12-year-old daughter” are added to the heading “Plan for learning the periodic table of chemical elements”, “Canvas” recognizes this in real time as a change in the specifications and rephrases the following text in a child-friendly way. Working in the document also allows changes to the tonality or text length that only affect individual sections. For example, you can highlight a paragraph and ask Gemini to make it more concise, professional or informal.
With “Canvas”, you can not only generate texts in an interactive interaction with the AI, but also have websites and apps programmed. In addition to the actual writing of the program code, “Canvas” also helps with debugging. The system is also able to explain existing program code.
Google is facing tough competition in the field of artificial intelligence, especially from OpenAI and Microsoft, but also new challenges from China such as DeepSeek.
dpa