Canva just dropped what it's calling a 'Creative Operating System' - though it's not actually an OS in any traditional sense. The design platform is rolling out a suite of AI-powered marketing tools built around a proprietary design-focused AI model, marking its most aggressive push yet into enterprise territory dominated by Google and Microsoft.
Canva is making its biggest play yet to become the default creative workspace for businesses. The company just unveiled what it's dubbing a 'Creative Operating System' - a collection of AI-powered marketing and design tools that CEO Cameron Adams says represents a fundamental shift from 'just being an application layer' to running entire creative workflows.
Don't get confused by the 'OS' branding though. This isn't software that'll boot up your laptop. 'We thought about a couple of different phrases and operating system just really resonated with us. It's a true system of operations,' Adams told The Verge. 'It's moved beyond just being an application layer, and it's truly how you can run your entire creative process and workflows.'
The centerpiece is a new in-house AI model that Canva claims is the first to be 'specifically trained to understand the complexity of design.' That's a direct shot at generic AI tools that treat design as an afterthought. This model powers everything from smart campaign optimization to automated video effects, giving Canva a technological moat against competitors relying on third-party AI.
The most significant addition is Canva Grow, a full marketing platform that lets teams design ads, launch campaigns, and track performance all in one place. The AI 'learns from performance data to make every campaign smarter and more effective over time,' according to the company. It's a direct challenge to established players like Facebook Ads Manager and Google Ads, but with the twist of native design integration.
Canva's also completely redesigned its video editor with a simplified timeline for trimming, syncing, and layering footage. The new Video 2.0 includes AI-generated effects and templates designed for users without professional editing experience. It's clearly targeting the sweet spot between basic social media editing and expensive software like Adobe Premiere.
The company isn't stopping there. A new Forms tool mimics Google Forms but automatically imports data into Canva Sheets, while the Email Design product lets marketing teams create branded campaigns without switching to platforms like Mailchimp. Every feature is designed to keep users inside Canva's ecosystem.
