Canva CEO Melanie Perkins on the Company’s Bold AI Enterprise Shift and Future of Design Tools

Canva founder and CEO Melanie Perkins joined us to discuss the company’s rapid evolution from a popular online design tool into an AI-driven enterprise software platform. Perkins last appeared on the show two years ago, just as generative AI began reshaping the worlds of art and design. At the time, Canva avoided much of the backlash faced by competitors for integrating AI tools—partly due to its user base of non-designers who prioritized productivity over creative control.

Canva’s AI Expansion: From Design Tool to AI Platform

Today, AI is ubiquitous in design software, and public sentiment has grown more complex. Yet Canva is doubling down on AI integration with a major update that lets users generate presentations, documents, and design materials simply by describing what they need. The AI taps into data sources like Slack and email to assemble these assets, which are delivered as editable Canva files—allowing users to refine and customize the output.

“The idea is to move from a design platform with AI tools to an AI platform with design tools.”

This shift reflects Canva’s ambition to become the central hub where businesses automate routine design tasks while maintaining creative oversight.

Enterprise AI: Costs, Pricing, and Competitive Edge

Perkins addressed key challenges in scaling AI for enterprise use, including the cost of tokens required for automation and potential pricing models for users. The new AI tools remain in beta, but Perkins expressed confidence in Canva’s growth trajectory as companies seek solutions to automate repetitive tasks like presentation creation.

“More and more companies are looking for tools that automate tasks like making presentations,” Perkins noted. “And that’s exactly what we’re building.”

Canva’s enterprise push places it in direct competition with other major AI players targeting corporate budgets. Perkins argued that Canva’s advantage lies in its existing ecosystem and user-friendly approach—even Canva’s internal operations rely on its own platform.

AI and Design: Navigating User Sentiment and Job Concerns

Public sentiment toward AI in creative fields remains mixed, with polls indicating widespread skepticism. Perkins acknowledged these concerns but emphasized Canva’s focus on empowering users rather than replacing them. The company’s AI tools are designed to augment workflows, not eliminate roles—a strategy Perkins believes aligns with how most professionals want to work.

“People don’t want AI to take over,” Perkins said. “They want tools that help them do their jobs better.”

What’s Next for Canva’s AI Vision

As AI continues to transform design and enterprise software, Canva is positioning itself as a bridge between automation and human creativity. With its latest updates, the company is betting big on AI’s potential to streamline workflows while keeping users firmly in control of the final output.