ChatGPT Canvas adds tracked changes feature

ChatGPT Canvas update enhances editing capabilities: OpenAI has introduced a new feature to ChatGPT’s Canvas that allows users to track changes made to generated text and code, improving the editing experience for subscribers.

Key features of the update:

• A “show changes” button has been added to Canvas, highlighting additions in green and deletions in red
• This feature applies to both text and code generated by GPT-4
• The update addresses user requests for a track changes function since Canvas launched in early October

Canvas functionality and availability:

• Canvas allows users to edit ChatGPT’s responses directly within the app
• The feature includes familiar editing tools like comments for adding suggestions or instructions
• Currently, Canvas is only available on the web version of ChatGPT for Plus, Teams, Enterprise, and Edu subscribers
• Mac and Windows app users will have to wait for future updates to access Canvas

Competitive landscape:

• Anthropic’s Claude AI assistant offers a similar feature called Artifacts
• Artifacts allows users to manipulate model responses in a dedicated window
• Claude’s feature goes a step further by enabling users to replicate websites using generated and edited code, providing visual feedback on code changes

Industry implications:

• The introduction of Canvas and Artifacts suggests a new phase in AI chat platform evolution
• These developments could spark an “Interface War” as platforms compete to keep users within their ecosystems for various tasks

User experience considerations:

• Tracking changes is a standard feature in popular editing platforms like Google Docs and Microsoft Word
• The addition of this functionality to AI-generated content editing improves user experience and workflow
• OpenAI plans to roll out updates to Canvas gradually as subscribers become accustomed to the feature

Limitations and future developments:

• Canvas currently lacks direct integration with code repositories like GitHub
• The feature doesn’t provide visual representation of how edited code works, unlike Claude’s Artifacts
• OpenAI may address these limitations in future updates to remain competitive in the AI assistant market

Broader context: As AI chat platforms evolve, the focus is shifting towards creating more comprehensive and user-friendly interfaces that can handle a wider range of tasks without requiring users to switch between multiple applications or windows.