Even this newsroom can't keep up with AI news these days... But we're giving it a go! What's new in Gemini ?
What can't Canvas do
Canvas is one of the new tools in your Gemini app. In the toolbar, you can not only select sources and specify how you want Gemini to work, but also what type of answer or output you want. Require an image? Nano Banana 2. (Also updated, by the way, the text generation has been improved!) Want a short 30-second tune? Soundtracks with Lyria 3.
Want a full-on worksheet where you can adjust and improve on the spot? Canvas. Being accustomed to a simple chat interface, Gemini now introduces a new, powerful dimension: an interactive, visual space specifically designed for complex projects.
Do you want to start creating code or text, but want to get away from the endless question and answer game of Gemini where you have to regenerate and review everything every time you prompt an adjustment?
Canvas is a separate in-screen-frame that opens next to the chat window. Instead of a long stream of messages, Canvas provides a central space to create and edit content — whether it's an article, a piece of code, or a piece of data analysis.
Within the frame you can...
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Make direct edits: You can select bits of text and ask Gemini to adjust that specific section, instead of having to regenerate the entire text. You'll also see the familiar quick text editor buttons for adding headers, formatting, bullets, etc.
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View version history: Easily revert or compare different versions of your work.
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Adjust the tone and length of your text: With handy shortcut buttons, you can make a text more formal, shorten it for a summary, or expand it for more depth with a single click.
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Asking for suggestions: With the "suggest edits" shortcut, Gemini comments itself in separate speech bubbles. You can then choose which comments or suggestions you want to address or close.
- Export the result: Are you satisfied with your creation? Copy the entire content or immediately create a visual representation or other interface of your choice.
Canvas is also revolutionary for developers. You can run web applications (HTML/JS/CSS) or React components directly in the window. You see the results of your code in real time. Gemini itself calls it "the transition from AI as an answering machine to AI as a colleague"... (But we still prefer to have actual coffee with our real colleagues!)
Share your result
You can now separate your conversation with Gemini from your app and share it via the "share" button at the top. A link is generated that anyone, even someone not using Google Workspace, can open and view. This way, you can quickly share a nice design or interesting explanation with a colleague or friend, while also providing them with the full context.
Tip: Start a new chat each time for a different topic, so you only share relevant content! You can also customize the name of a specific conversation or pin specific chats for quick access.
Continue where you left off
Your conversation history will be available in the Gemini side panel of Google Workspace apps. This feature allows users to continue their prompts in Gemini across sessions. This history is persisted across apps, and the conversations remain private. For example, a conversation in the Google Docs side panel won't appear in the Google Sheets side panel, and a conversation in the side panel of a shared file won't be visible to other users with access to that file. 
