ECNETNews reports that OpenAI is transforming the ChatGPT interface into a more user-friendly digital notepad for project management.
On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled a beta “canvas” feature designed for writing and coding tasks. Unlike the traditional chatbox interface that makes idea refinement cumbersome, Canvas aims to streamline the process.
The announcement highlighted that the traditional ChatGPT interface, while user-friendly for many tasks, falls short for projects requiring extensive editing and revisions. Canvas presents a fresh approach tailored for this type of work.
This significant design update marks the first major change to ChatGPT since its inception in 2022. OpenAI has remained active, launching advanced models and securing $6.6 billion in its latest investment round. Industry reports indicate that OpenAI anticipates increasing its revenue from $3.7 billion this year to $11.6 billion by 2025. Enhancements to ChatGPT, such as improved dynamics and usability, could play a crucial role in achieving these financial objectives.
Currently, Canvas is accessible only to paying subscribers, but OpenAI has plans to extend availability to non-subscribers once the feature exits beta. ChatGPT Plus and Teams users can enable “ChatGPT 4o with Canvas” from the model dropdown to begin utilizing the new interface. Enterprise and Edu subscribers will gain access next week.
To activate Canvas, users need to input a relevant prompt for writing or coding, which will automatically open a new window. According to OpenAI, ChatGPT is programmed to identify specific prompts that initiate the Canvas feature. For enhanced writing support, users can highlight text sections and select “ask ChatGPT” to request edits or additional input regarding the highlighted material.
A shortcuts bar located at the lower-left corner facilitates easy suggestions for edits, shortening text, modifying reading levels, grammar polishing, and even adding emojis. The traditional ChatGPT conversation format remains accessible in a sidebar to maintain continuity.
In terms of coding, Canvas operates similarly, recognizing coding-related prompts that launch a new window. Available shortcuts include options to review code, add logs and comments, fix bugs, and translate code into different programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C++, or PHP.
For users who make a mistake, a back button allows them to revert to a prior version easily. Once finished, users can close the Canvas window to return to the standard ChatGPT interface, with saved projects easily retrievable from the chat history.
