So, a new feature has been added to ChatGPT called Canvas.
Not to be confused with the Canva platform!
Not sure who has this as yet, and I don't think it's available on the free version.
Let's have a look at what it does.
You initially access it by clicking the dropdown arrow at the top of the screen, where it typically defaults to ChatGPT 4o.
It then opens up as a new page, see screenshot.
[attach]1160[/attach]You can use the message option to ask for anything to be added, or changed etc, but this is now on the left of the screen.
But, if you look to the lower right of the screen, there is also a new pencil icon.
If you hover over this, it gives different editing tools you can use.
[attach]1161[/attach]In order, they are - Add Emojis, Add Final Polish, Reading Level, Adjust the Length and Suggest Edits.
To test it, I gave a very simple prompt, which obviously we wouldn't do - to write a post in full!
But it certainly seems better than it used to be already - no delving and navigating, lol.
Let's try each new feature, (double-click them) starting with emojis.
[attach]1162[/attach]Ermm, no, I really wouldn't suggest you do that, it looks awful!
I asked Chatty to remove them, which led to an almighty mess, as it had previously replaced some entire words with emojis, and didn't replace the words, leaving bizarre gaps!
So, this led to a further message to ask for the words back again!
Right, let's forget emojis (hurrah!) and move on to Add Final Polish.
And then, I asked what had changed.
[attach]1163[/attach]Certainly reads better in my opinion.
Now let's try Reading Level - this brings up a slider that runs from kindergarten to Graduate School.
[attach]1164[/attach]I really like the Graduate style, looks very authoritative and can still be understood by the majority of readers.
Next we move on to Adjust the Length, which again brings up a slider, running from Shortest to Longest, with several points in between.
The Graduate Level post was 780 words, and after selecting "Longest" it was expanded to a massive 1633 words!
Chatty tells me the following -
[attach]1165[/attach]I was actually very happy with the post at this stage and would even think about publishing it as it is (after fact-checking)!
But let's see what the final feature does - Suggest Edits.
This is pretty mindblowing really!
Chatty found 5 areas for improvement, highlighted them, and added a new box with the suggestions.
[attach]1166[/attach] [attach]1167[/attach]But could it follow its own suggestions?
You bet it can!
When you hover over the box, it says Apply!
And Boom! It has implemented the suggestion!
This is the first time I have played with these new options, but overall I am very impressed and will experiment further.
But please, STEP AWAY FROM THE EMOJIS!