There's no shortage of AI assistants, but few are truly effective in everyday use. Since March, Google has offered Canvas in Gemini, a tool that's changing the way we approach writing and coding. Without being revolutionary, it brings practical functions that the competition has not yet matched.
Between ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude or Gemini, AI tools are multiplying but often leave users wanting more. Producing a text or a line of code without redoing everything yourself remains difficult. Despite ambitious promises, these assistants struggle to convince in everyday tasks. And yet, some more discreet functions can prove truly useful, provided they are well thought out.
This is the case with Canvas, integrated into Gemini since March 2025 on mobile and on the web. Presented as a simple creation space, this function actually allows you to write text, code, structure ideas or manipulate documents directly from the assistant's interface. Unlike other AIs that respond in bulk, the app remains open and editable. The user can write for themselves, then occasionally ask it to rephrase, correct, reorganize, or apply a specific format. 
With Canvas, Gemini becomes an interactive tool for writing, organizing, or testing code
Canvas functions as a workspace in which you can write text or give instructions to the AI to help you. For example, you can ask it to change all the headings, move part of the text, or delete certain words. It is also possible to save custom commands, so you don't have to repeat the same instructions each time. By default, the tool uses a simple text format called Markdown, which facilitates page layout. Compared to other programs like ChatGPT or Copilot, Canvas allows you to modify your document continuously, without having to redo everything each time.
Canvas also allows you to create small pieces of code and see directly what it looks like. For example, you can make a mini web page with very simple animations. It's not designed for professional developers, but it can help test an idea quickly, without complicated software. On mobile, the tool is accessible in the new Gemini menu, alongside functions like “Deep Research”. Even if AI doesn't replace a real editor or programmer, Canvas shows that it can be useful when it's just used to support, not to do everything for you.
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