Google is expanding the capabilities of its AI-powered chatbot Gemini with two major new features: Canvas, an interactive workspace designed for writing and coding projects, and Audio Overview, a tool that generates AI-powered podcast-style summaries of documents and web pages. The update positions Gemini as a more robust productivity tool, competing directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Canvas and Anthropic’s Artifacts.
Announced on Tuesday, Canvas provides users with an advanced space to draft, refine, and collaborate on their projects using AI assistance. The feature enables users to create lengthy messages or pieces of content, which they can then edit, adjust for tone and structure, and fine-tune with dedicated tools. Gemini Canvas also allows users to highlight specific sections of their drafts and modify them to be more concise, professional, or informal. Additionally, content created within Canvas can be exported directly to Google Docs, making collaboration seamless and efficient.
Google’s push to transform Gemini into a full-fledged productivity suite aligns with an industry-wide trend of enhancing AI chatbot interfaces beyond simple text-based interactions. AI-powered workspaces, like Canvas, ChatGPT Canvas, and Artifacts, aim to provide users with a more structured and dynamic editing experience that allows for real-time adjustments and greater control over AI-generated outputs.
One of the standout capabilities of Gemini Canvas is its programming functionality. Users can now generate and preview HTML, React code, and other web app prototypes within the platform. The feature allows developers to make iterative changes in real time, seeing their adjustments reflected immediately in the preview. This functionality is particularly valuable for web developers and software engineers who want to refine their projects within an AI-assisted environment.
“For example, say you want to create an email subscription form for your website,” explained Dave Citron, product director at Gemini. “You can ask Gemini to generate the HTML for the form and then preview how it will appear and function within your web app.”
As of now, Canvas’ code preview feature is only available on the web version of Gemini, though future updates may extend its availability to mobile and other platforms.
In addition to Canvas, Google is integrating Audio Overview into Gemini, a feature that first gained attention through Google’s NotebookLM last year. This AI-powered tool allows users to upload documents and web pages and receive a narrated summary, transforming lengthy text into digestible audio content. Audio Overview generates summaries that sound like natural, podcast-style narrations, providing users with an alternative way to consume information efficiently.
Similar to its functionality in NotebookLM, Audio Overview in Gemini accepts various file formats. Users can upload content via the prompt bar, triggering the AI to create an audio summary, which can then be downloaded or shared via the Gemini app. However, Audio Overview is currently limited to English, with potential language expansions in future updates.
Both Canvas and Audio Overview are now available for free to all Gemini users worldwide, with Canvas’ code preview feature currently exclusive to the web. These additions mark a significant step in Google’s strategy to make Gemini a comprehensive AI-powered assistant that can support users in everything from content creation to software development and audio-based learning.
With AI technology rapidly evolving, Google’s continued enhancements to Gemini signal a deeper investment in AI-driven productivity. Whether through refined text editing, real-time code previews, or immersive audio summaries, these new features offer users greater control, flexibility, and efficiency in how they interact with AI-powered tools.
