Canva Acquires Generative AI Platform Leonardo to Enhance Visual AI Capabilities

Canva has announced its acquisition of AI productivity platform Leonardo.Ai, marking a significant step forward in its mission to empower everyone to design. This acquisition is part of Canva’s strategy to scale its visual AI technology and continue to innovate in the field of design.

Background and Objectives

Since launching in 2013, Canva has been committed to making design accessible to everyone. Today, Canva supports more than 190 million users worldwide in bringing their ideas to life. With the acquisition of Leonardo.Ai, Canva aims to strengthen its AI capabilities, develop its portfolio of AI products and invest in continuous research and innovation to shape the future of virtual AI.

Leonardo.Ai Integration

Leonardo.Ai, with its team of 120 researchers, engineers, and designers, will continue to develop its web platform for its millions of users, now fueled by Canva’s financial resources, technology, and licensed content from the Canva Creators program. This integration will allow Leonardo to expand its user base and improve AI-generated images, graphics, and videos.

Developing AI in virtual communication

Canva has a history of investing in AI to improve design tools, starting with the launch of its Background Remover tool in 2019 and the acquisition of visual AI company Kaleido in 2021. The launch of the Text to Image tool in 2022 and a comprehensive suite of AI-powered products, Magic Studio, in 2023, drove significant user engagement, with Magic Studio being used more than 7 billion times.

Leonardo.Ai’s advanced technology will be integrated with Canva’s existing products, such as Magic Media, which enhance AI graphics and video production. This merger will also support a deep investment in basic model research and development, which is critical to both Canva and Leonardo’s growth.

User Benefits

The integration of Leonardo’s technology will provide Canva users with enhanced capabilities in producing high-quality images and videos. Leonardo’s models can produce a variety of styles, from realistic portraits to animated illustrations, giving users powerful tools for creative and strategic work. This development will benefit a variety of professionals, including marketers, designers, inventors, and educators, by enabling them to scale their work effectively and efficiently.

Maintaining Privacy and User Privacy

Leonardo will continue to operate independently, focusing on rapid innovation, model research, and product development. While benefiting from Canva’s services, Leonardo will maintain his own approach to product development. User content from Canva will not be shared with Leonardo unless users opt-in, ensuring privacy and data control.

Photo: Canva