Just weeks after acquiring MagicBrief, Canva deepens its AI push with ChatGPT

Canva has announced two major updates aimed at embedding its design tools deeper into AI-first workflows, claiming to be the first design platform to plug directly into OpenAI’s ChatGPT via a new deep research connector and server protocol.

The updates, the Canva deep research connector and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, expand Canva’s role as a fully AI-integrated design suite. The tools allow users to design, refine and collaborate on content inside ChatGPT, drawing directly from their Canva accounts without switching tabs or re-uploading files.

SEE MORE: Canva acquires MagicBrief to supercharge AI content

The move comes just weeks after Canva acquired creative asset management platform MagicBrief, and reflects Canva’s ambition to turn its creative suite into a core layer of productivity infrastructure for marketers, agencies and creators.

“AI agents and assistants have become indispensable creative partners, yet current workflows require users to manually add context or references, creating complexity,” Anwar Haneef, GM and Head of Ecosystem at Canva, said. “We’re embedding Canva directly into the AI tools people use every day so they can brainstorm, create and publish content faster.”

The deep research connector gives OpenAI’s GPT models access to Canva documents, presentations, and brand assets - enabling faster campaign reports, messaging summaries, proposal creation and more. Privacy protections are built in via Canva Shield, the company’s trust and safety framework.

“Launching the Canva deep research connector means businesses and their employees get faster, better insights because ChatGPT has more context,” said Nate Gonzalez, Head of Business Products at OpenAI. “We’re thrilled to work together to bring powerful AI to many of today’s most important workflows.”

The new MCP Server, launching today, lets AI assistants pull real-time context from a user’s Canva workspace - including past designs, templates, and brand guides to generate on-brand content, autofill charts, and resize assets automatically. The server supports one-click integrations with platforms including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Salesforce’s Agentforce, with more to come.

Canva says usage of its GPT plugin has surged 375% year-on-year, making it one of ChatGPT’s top productivity tools. The company now counts 240 million users, including 95% of the Fortune 500, and says its suite of AI-powered tools has been used 18 billion times.