What is an AI canvas, and how is it different from a chat?
An AI canvas is a surface where outputs from your requests—like images, documents, or circuits—are placed side by side, moved, and combined. GROX provides a Canvas where things you ask for land on a board, letting you compare, rearrange and act on them. In contrast, chat is a running line of messages, best for conversations and quick tasks.
What is an AI canvas and what can you do on it?
An AI canvas is a workspace where you see and interact with items you create—such as pictures, documents, or slides—on a board, rather than in a chat thread. Each item stays visible and can be moved, resized, or combined. This makes it easier to compare results, organise ideas, or build something with several parts.
The canvas suits creative work, planning, or when you want to keep several outputs at hand. Instead of scrolling through chat to find a past image or file, you can place and arrange them visually. For tasks where seeing everything at once helps—like reviewing multiple design options or laying out a campaign—a canvas is more practical than a chat.
| Feature | Canvas | Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Board with moveable items | Linear message thread |
| Best for | Comparing, organising, building | Quick answers, conversation |
| Actions | Drag, resize, combine | Reply, edit, search |
| Visibility | See many things at once | One message at a time |
- Board
- A surface where outputs land and stay for easy access.
- Take
- A single result from a prompt, such as one image or clip.
- Prompt
- A request you make to the AI, like 'make a chart'.
- Keep it
- Approving an item so it stays on the board and can be used.
- Place images, PDFs, slides, and more side by side
- Compare several takes of a picture or idea
- Combine outputs into a campaign or document
- Act on items directly, such as turning a picture into a clip
How does the Canvas in GROX work in practice?
The Canvas appears as a full-screen board beside Chat, Browser and Build. At the foot of the Canvas is a box where you can ask for a picture, clip, voice recording, PDF, slides, sheet or circuit. Each output lands on the board as its own item that you can move, resize, open, save, or remove.
Depending on your plan, each prompt can produce one, two, or four takes side by side—one on Free and GROX Plus, two on Pro, and four on Max. Each take uses credits. You can turn a picture into a short clip with one press. Circuits are drawn from your description, and you must press 'Keep it' to save them; circuits only run when you switch them on.
| Plan | Takes per prompt | Actions available |
|---|---|---|
| Free / Plus | One | Move, resize, save, turn picture into clip |
| Pro | Two | All of the above |
| Max | Four | All of the above |
- Canvas
- A separate board for visual work and output management.
- Circuit
- A reusable automation you can draw and run on the Canvas.
- Clip
- A short video generated from a picture or prompt.
- Board actions
- Move, resize, open, save, or remove each item.
- Ask for multiple types of content in one place
- See and arrange outputs visually
- Approve circuits before they run
- Turn static images into videos easily
When should you use a canvas instead of chat?
A chat is best when you want fast answers, a simple conversation, or to handle one request at a time. It keeps everything in sequence, which works well for step-by-step tasks or when you do not need to compare several things at once.
A canvas is more useful when you need to organise, compare, or combine outputs. For example, if you are reviewing several design options, creating a set of social media posts, or planning a project with multiple files, the canvas helps you see and interact with everything together. It is also useful when you want to turn one output into another, such as making a clip from a picture.
| Task type | Better with chat? | Better with canvas? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Q&A | Yes | No |
| Comparing images | No | Yes |
| Planning a campaign | No | Yes |
| Single document edit | Yes | No |
- Chat
- A running sequence of messages for conversation or quick tasks.
- Visual layout
- Arranging items where you can see them all at once.
- Comparison
- Looking at several outputs side by side.
- Combination
- Merging or linking outputs together.
- Use chat for single questions or fast feedback
- Switch to canvas for creative or multi-part tasks
- Choose canvas to compare or combine outputs
- Stay in chat when you do not need a board
What are the limits and trade-offs of a canvas?
A canvas is more powerful for visual work, but it can be less direct than chat for quick questions or simple instructions. It requires you to manage items on a board, which can be more effort if you only need a brief answer. Some actions, like replying or searching, are simpler in chat.
The Canvas in GROX is designed to keep outputs clear and organised, but you might not need it for every task. For straightforward requests, chat is faster. For anything involving multiple outputs, layouts, or creative revision, the canvas is more effective.
| Aspect | Canvas | Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Higher (arrange items) | Lower (just ask) |
| Best for | Visual, multi-part work | Quick, linear tasks |
| Effort | More (manage board) | Less (type and go) |
| Flexibility | High (move, combine) | Low (fixed order) |
- Effort
- Canvas may need more steps to keep things tidy.
- Speed
- Chat is usually faster for single tasks.
- Organisation
- Canvas helps when you have many items.
- Revision
- Canvas supports creative changes and comparison.
- Canvas needs you to arrange items
- Chat is faster for one-off questions
- Canvas shines with complex or visual work
- Switch between both as needed
Common questions
How do I create things on the Canvas?
On the Canvas, use the box at the foot to ask for a picture, clip, voice recording, PDF, slides, sheet or circuit. Each result lands as an item on the board, ready to be moved, opened, or combined. The number of takes per prompt depends on your plan.
Can I use both chat and canvas?
Yes, you can use chat for conversations and quick tasks, and switch to the Canvas for visual or multi-part work. Move between them as your needs change, making it easy to handle both types of tasks in GROX.
How does approval work for circuits on the Canvas?
When you ask for a circuit on the Canvas in GROX, it is drawn and shown with its steps before anything runs. The circuit is only saved when you press 'Keep it', and it will only run after you switch it on. This ensures you stay in control.
What is the benefit of having several takes per prompt?
Having several takes per prompt on the Canvas lets you compare different results side by side in GROX. This is helpful when you want to choose the best option, experiment with ideas, or combine outputs for a project or campaign.
See more ways to work with Canvas and chat in the GROX Help Centre.