In partnership with
Start learning AI in 2025
Everyone talks about AI, but no one has the time to learn it. So, we found the easiest way to learn AI in as little time as possible: The Rundown AI.
It's a free AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest AI news, and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.
Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses – tailored to your needs.
THE Canvas
Hello Everyone,
I hope your summer is off to a fantastic start! Today we are going to do a deep dive into the Gemini Canvas. The Gemini Canvas is a full featured editor that you can enable by clicking on the Canvas button in Google Gemini prompt window. This loads the output of the AI interaction into an editable area.
Once content is loaded into the canvas, you can then make edits to the output. There is a full editor built in that allows you to make most of the standard edits that you would do if you were using Word or Google Docs.
Where the magic starts is when you want to use Gemini again. Now, you can select just a certain paragraph or section, and then use AI to edit just that individual section. If you weren’t using canvas, you would be recreating the entire output every time. By using the canvas, you can keep the parts you like and then continue working on the parts that need more work! Very handy for using AI as part of your creative workflow.
Also built into the Canvas is a way to take your written content and turn it into something interactive. When you click on the Create button, Gemini provides you with a few prebuilt options to take your content and turn it into a WebPage, InfoGraphic or Quiz. You can also just describe what you want to turn it into. Very handy way to create interactive infographics that you can then embed on your website
Check out this example I made of a interactive infographic on the EdTech state of play. Everything on this page was generated in Gemini and then I took the code and embedded it onto my website.
Code in the Canvas
I am not a coder by any stretch, but with coding now available in the Gemini Canvas, I can create all sorts of things! Simply ask Gemini to code an HTML website to your liking, and BOOM, there is the code and a preview of the website (see the picture above and below)! You can even then make further edits to the code to get things exactly how you like it! Once finished, you can export the code and then put it wherever you want!
I encourage you to think outside the box with this little gem. Need to create a poster, have it code a website for you! Need a specific calculator for your job? Have it code a little web app that does the work for you! The possibilities are endless here! I’ve had students create interactive games that you can play in the browser, just by having a conversation with the AI! Really neat!
To Summarize Gemini Canvas…
provides a dedicated space within Gemini where you can:
Co-create Documents: Whether you're drafting a blog post, writing an essay, or preparing a report, Canvas allows you to write and edit text in real-time. You can highlight sections and ask Gemini to adjust the tone, length, or formatting, or even suggest entirely new content. It's like having a brilliant co-author who's always ready to provide instant feedback and enhancements.
Generate and Prototype Code: For developers and aspiring coders, Canvas is a game-changer. You can ask Gemini to generate HTML, React, Python scripts, games, or even complex simulations. The magic doesn't stop there – Canvas offers a live preview, allowing you to see your code in action instantly. This rapid prototyping capability means you can iterate on designs, request specific modifications, and witness changes applied in real-time, all within the same unified interface.
Seamless AI Integration: Gemini's AI capabilities are deeply woven into the Canvas experience. It provides intelligent suggestions, helps with debugging, explains complex code snippets, and assists in content generation, effectively overcoming creative blocks and streamlining your workflow.
Effortless Sharing and Exporting: Once your masterpiece is complete, Canvas makes it simple to share. You can export your documents directly to Google Docs for further team collaboration or copy your code for use elsewhere. Shareable links also allow others to view and even make copies of your Canvas creations.
Quote of the Week
This is a quote from Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google Deepmind from the HardFork Podcast. He’s been doing a circuit of podcasts post Google IO, and his discussions and insight into AI have been quite interesting to listen too!
Until next time,
Devon
Remember… The Pain of Studying is Preferable to the Bliss of Ignorance!