OpenAI has unveiled a major update to its Canvas feature within ChatGPT, introducing the ability to use Canvas with OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model and to render HTML and React code interactively.
The announcement, shared via X, marks an important step in transforming Canvas from a general-purpose text-editing tool into a robust platform for developers and designers.
By enabling live previews of code directly within the workspace, OpenAI aims to cater to a broader range of users, including web developers, content creators, and software engineers.
ChatGPT with canvas now works with OpenAI o1—and can render HTML and React. pic.twitter.com/d3T6HLyd0h
— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) January 24, 2025
The ability to render web components such as HTML and React elevates Canvas into direct competition with Anthropic’s Claude, which also offers interactive coding features.
OpenAI’s update also ties into its broader strategy of expanding Canvas as a multifunctional workspace. The most recent update to ChatGPT Canvas follows several prior improvements, including Python execution capabilities and the integration of custom GPTs.
Canvas Brings Live Rendering of Web Components
The newly introduced HTML and React rendering features allow users to visualize code directly in the Canvas interface, an addition that dramatically broadens its utility.
React, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, uses JavaScript XML (JSX), which combines HTML-like tags with JavaScript to create dynamic and interactive components. With this update, developers can experiment with JSX directly in Canvas and view live results without relying on external tools.
Early adopters of the feature have highlighted its potential but also pointed out challenges. Users report the ability to import external libraries via content delivery networks (CDNs) to extend React’s functionality, though OpenAI has not yet detailed which CDNs are supported or how to configure them.
Some users have also encountered errors during JSX compilation, including an issue where the system displayed the message: “Build failed with 1 error: internal:user-component.js:10:17: Expected ‘}’ but found ‘:’.” While Canvas includes a “fix this bug” helper, its current capabilities appear limited, leaving advanced users to troubleshoot manually.
Competing with Claude Artifacts
By introducing these rendering features, OpenAI positions Canvas as a direct rival to Anthropic’s Claude Artifacts, a tool that has been praised for its ability to render HTML and other interactive elements.
Claude Artifacts has been widely adopted by developers who rely on its polished experience for designing and testing web-based components. OpenAI’s Canvas, however, brings additional strengths by offering broader functionality, such as Python execution and integration with custom GPT models.
OpenAI’s stated vision for Canvas is to enable users to collaborate with ChatGPT in a “more dynamic way”. This dynamic approach extends beyond web development, providing tools for debugging, data visualization, and document editing, making it a versatile option for professionals across multiple domains.
Timeline of OpenAI Canvas Enhancements
Canvas debuted in October 2024 as a beta release for ChatGPT Plus and Teams subscribers. The initial version introduced a split-screen interface, enabling users to separate conversational context from an editable workspace. Features such as text highlighting, targeted edits, and writing shortcuts helped users refine content with precision, whether they were working on articles or debugging code.
In December 2024, as part of OpenAI’s “12 Days of OpenAI” event, Canvas received a broader rollout alongside new features like real-time Python execution and deeper integration with custom GPT models.
Python execution allows developers to write, test, and debug code directly within the workspace, streamlining workflows for data analysis and software development. OpenAI showcased this capability during a live demonstration, stating: “By integrating real-time execution, we aim to reduce friction between idea generation and implementation”.
Custom GPTs, meanwhile, allow users to tailor ChatGPT to specific tasks or industries. With Canvas, these specialized AI models gained an immediate upgrade, providing a workspace for domain-specific programming, content generation, and other advanced applications.
The ability to integrate custom GPT models further broadens Canvas’ applicability. For instance, a software team could configure a custom GPT to focus on generating boilerplate code, while writers might use it to polish technical documentation. These tailored interactions make Canvas more than just a coding assistant; it becomes a platform adaptable to specific professional needs.