Canva doubles down on OpenAI while launching second in-house AI model
Canva expanded its partnership with OpenAI while releasing Brush, its second AI model that edits designs 69% faster and 46% cheaper.
Australian design platform Canva is hedging its AI bets: it has deepened its partnership with OpenAI while also building its own artificial intelligence models to cut costs. The new deal gives Canva broader access to OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra and GPT-5.6 models, which the two companies will work to make cheaper to run.
Canva released Brush last week, an AI model that edits existing designs without needing a full remake, following its earlier release of Craft, which generates images. Brush is available to Canva Pro subscribers.
Cofounder Melanie Perkins said in August that rising AI costs forced the company to rethink its strategy, and it cut revenue growth forecasts from 30% to 20% while it developed cheaper homegrown technology.
OpenAI's models already power Canva Code, which lets users build interactive designs by describing what they want.
- 69% faster, 46% cheaper
- Brush performance gain
- 30% down to 20%
- Revenue growth revised
- Craft (images), Brush (edits)
- In-house models released
- GPT-6 Astra, GPT-5.6
- OpenAI models accessed
Why it mattersShows how AI costs are forcing even successful startups to invest in their own models rather than relying on external suppliers, reshaping the tech industry's economics.
AustraliaAustralian tech company adapting to AI cost pressures; Canva Pro users will see faster, cheaper design features as the company optimises its AI spending.
