Canva Launches an AI App Builder. But Is It Ready for Real Work?
A promising step toward code-free creation and AI features for B2B marketers
(Looking for AI News You can use? Scroll to the bottom for 5 recent headlines)
The rise of AI has changed how B2B marketers work. From content creation to campaign optimization, generative tools are quickly becoming part of everyday workflows. Now Canva—the popular design platform known for its drag-and-drop visuals and ease of use—is expanding into the AI builder space.
At its Canva Create 2025 event, the company unveiled a no-code app generator designed to let users build web apps simply by describing them. Type what you want. Watch an app appear.
It sounds promising, especially for non-technical teams. But after testing it against common B2B marketing use cases, the experience feels more like a prototype than a tool ready for serious campaign execution.
What Canva’s Code Generator Does
Inside the Canva interface, you can now describe the kind of app you want. The AI responds by generating HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code live in a side-by-side preview.
There is no coding experience required. No plugin installs. No developer handoff. But also—no access to the code files. No GitHub integration. And no way to export or iterate outside Canva.
We tested a basic prompt based on their own launch demo:
“Create an interactive drag and drop game where students arrange planets in order from the sun.”
The first attempt showed a single glowing object. No interactivity. No drag and drop.
The second attempt looked better visually but still had no functionality. For teams needing fast iteration, this will be a dealbreaker.
What B2B Marketing Teams Should Know
If you’re in demand gen, content, or product marketing, you might be wondering if this tool can help you build interactive landing pages, product demos, or onboarding flows without code.
Here are the key limitations we noticed:
No visibility into code
You can’t inspect, reuse, or improve the code. That makes collaboration with developers or AI copilots impossible.
No editing flexibility
Every tweak has to be typed as a new prompt. You can’t select specific parts to modify like you would in tools like Replit, Cursor, or Lovable.
No integration hooks
There’s no version control, GitHub support, or ability to connect with your existing systems. That limits scalability.
No framework support
Expect raw HTML, CSS, and JavaScript only. Don’t expect it to spit out React components or Next.js apps any time soon.
For B2B teams used to moving fast and experimenting across tools, this creates friction. Especially for marketers who already use AI for content, email, and ad variation generation, this builder feels like a step backward in terms of usability.
Why Canva Is Still Worth Watching
Canva is not building this for developers. It’s building for non-technical teams who want speed, visuals, and simplicity. And they’re playing the long game.
They already let users build websites inside the platform. The app builder could eventually become a layer on top of that. Imagine spinning up interactive calculators, ROI estimators, or micro experiences inside your brand’s design system—all in one platform.
That vision is worth keeping an eye on. But it’s not where things are today.
Bottom Line for B2B Marketing Leaders
If you’re looking for a plug-and-play AI tool to help your team build interactive campaigns, Canva’s Code Generator isn’t there yet. It may be useful for internal prototypes or quick team experiments, but don’t expect it to support production-level interactivity or marketing personalization just yet.
Until Canva gives marketers more transparency, editing control, and integration capabilities, the tool is better seen as a preview of what’s coming—not a solution you can count on today.
Have you tried it? Would you use it to build something customer-facing? Let me know.
Thank you for reading — and subscribing!
🗞️ AI News You Can Use!
5 stories shaping the future of AI—and what they mean for your business.
1. $2K AI Ad Shakes Up the NBA Finals
A fully AI-generated ad aired during Game 3 of the NBA Finals—built in just two days using Google’s Gemini and Veo 3. The budget? $2,000. The message? Big-brand creative might be losing its monopoly. Expect more small teams using generative tools to produce “good enough” ads weekly—and getting most of the results for a fraction of the cost.
2. OpenAI Pushes Back on Court Order to Retain Deleted Chats
A federal judge has ordered OpenAI to preserve all user chats—even deleted ones—for the NYT lawsuit. OpenAI responded, calling it an “overreach” and warning it could violate user trust. The case may influence how AI tools used in marketing store sensitive customer and campaign data.
3. Disney & Universal Sue Midjourney Over IP Violations
Midjourney is being sued over AI-generated versions of protected characters like Shrek and Iron Man. The studios claim mass copyright infringement. For marketers, the outcome could clarify where creative freedom ends and liability begins in generative content.
4. Meta Invests $15B in Scale AI to Chase AGI
Meta just secured a 49% stake in Scale AI—and with it, CEO Alexandr Wang, who will lead a new AGI-focused division. The move doubles down on both infrastructure and talent, signaling that foundational AI investments are heating up across big tech.
5. New York Passes First AI Risk Disclosure Law
The new RAISE Act requires companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to report any models that could cause 100+ deaths or $1B+ in damages. With fines up to $30M, this sets a precedent for future AI regulation—something B2B vendors and enterprise buyers will need to track closely.
Thanks for reading AI For B2B Marketers! This post is public so feel free to share it with the smartest leader you know.
