OpenAI launches Canvas, a new side panel feature for ChatGPT to improve writing and coding

OpenAI has launched Canvas, a significant update to ChatGPT's visual interface, which introduces a new window interface aimed at making tasks like writing and coding more efficient by allowing users to place prompts alongside generated content. This setup facilitates easier editing and revisions, similar to Claude's Artifacts tool which supports a side panel view for executing Python programs that update based on user prompts.

Canvas's standout feature is its improved contextual understanding, enabling ChatGPT to better comprehend user tasks. Users can highlight specific sections to guide ChatGPT's focus, making the editing process more efficient. Additionally, Canvas offers inline feedback and suggestions for real-time content improvement, along with a variety of shortcuts tailored for writing and coding. The update includes writing shortcuts for edit suggestions, adjusting document length, changing reading levels, performing final polish checks, and adding emojis. For coding, it offers code review suggestions, debugging logs, comments, bug fixes, and code porting across languages like JavaScript and Python.

Canvas can be accessed automatically in relevant scenarios, by using the command "use canvas," or through the ChatGPT 4o model in beta. Currently, it is available to ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with plans to extend access to ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu users next week, and eventually to all ChatGPT Free users after the beta phase.