Canva boosts AI, workplace tools

Visual communication platform Canva recently announced its latest innovations, including new generative AI technology from Leonardo.Ai.

The company has introduced Dream Lab, a powerful generative AI tool designed to transform any idea from a simple text description into dynamic and highly dynamic photos and graphics.

Powered by Leonardo’s advanced Phoenix foundational model, Dream Lab's features include the following:

• Generate multiple variations in more than 15 different styles including 3D Renders and illustrations
• Use an existing image as a style reference to more precisely influence the output, unlocking possibilities like generating stock photos in your company’s style
• Create complex multi-subject images and photorealistic portraits

''By combining extensive image generation with Canva’s 100+ million content library, users have access to an endless supply of content, ensuring they always have the perfect image for any design,'' Canva said in a press release.

''For example, art directors can generate entire storyboards, entrepreneurs can experiment with various product mockups, marketing teams can quickly create on-brand campaign assets, and educators can craft engaging learning materials—all with creative confidence.''

Other new and forthcoming features include:

• Smarter Whiteboards: AI-powered sorting and summarizing, along with interactive ‘Reaction Stickies’ to help teammates vote on ideas in real-time.
• More Intuitive Magic Write: New AI functionalities including contextual text generation for more accurate output and one-click commands to refine generated text.
• Effortless Video Capabilities: Advanced animation effects and automatically generated captions that can be matched to brand style to save hours of manual work.
• More Interactive Presentations: New interactive chart types and advanced animation effects to boost engagement. Plus, automatic page numbers added with one click.
• Expanded Data Storytelling: The introduction of new chart types such as Area Charts, Radar Charts, Hierarchy Charts, and Statistical Charts.
• Introducing Custom Mockups: Turn photos into professional, on-brand mockup templates in a click.
• Debuting Polls and quizzes: Create simple, customizable polls and quizzes directly in the editor.
• Powerful Integrations: Access and collaborate on Canva designs directly within Google Workspace via Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Docs and more.
• Artlist integration: Through the Artlist Premium Video Library, Canva now offers music and cinematic video assets from top industry artists.
• Enhancing inclusive representation with pocstock: Canva strengthens its commitment to diversity by introducing the pocstock content collection. This partnership gives paid users access to 150,000 photos, empowering them to create content that better reflects an inclusive world.

Canva is also expanding its offerings to empower teachers, students, and small business owners with indispensable tools and resources tailored to their visual communication needs.

• Work Kits for small business owners: Generalist Work Kits that include playbooks, customizable templates, organizational resources, and apps to support various aspects of running a business.
• Work Kits for teachers: A wide range of education-focused templates and resources to address key challenges, refresh lesson plans, manage workloads, and encourage creativity based on real-world experiences.
• Work Kits for students: Templates, tips, and tools to enhance homework, organize studies, and elevate their presentations for extracurricular projects. —VBL, GMA Integrated News