ChatGPT Canvas & Advanced Features

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What is ChatGPT Canvas?

Canvas transforms ChatGPT from a chat interface into a collaborative workspace.

Regular ChatGPT vs Canvas

Regular Chat	Canvas
Conversation in a stream	Side-by-side editing panel
Copy/paste results	Direct editing in workspace
Hard to make iterative changes	Easy to refine specific parts
Limited formatting	Rich text editing

🎯 Fun Fact: Canvas was inspired by how programmers use code editors - being able to see, edit, and refine code directly rather than just chatting about it.

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When Canvas Opens Automatically

Try This Now: Trigger Canvas

Go to ChatGPT and type:

“Write a 300-word blog post about the benefits of morning walks”

Canvas should open on the right side with your document!

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Using Canvas for Writing

Once Canvas opens, you get powerful editing tools:

The Canvas Toolbar

Button	What It Does
Suggest edits	AI recommends improvements
Adjust length	Make it shorter or longer
Change reading level	Simplify or make more sophisticated
Add emojis	😊 Sprinkle in relevant emojis
Final polish	Grammar, flow, and clarity check

Inline Editing

You can also:

1. Highlight text in Canvas
2. Ask for changes in the chat
3. AI updates just that section

This is much better than regenerating the entire document!

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Try This Now: Canvas Writing Exercise

1. Ask ChatGPT: “Write a professional email declining a meeting invitation”
2. Once Canvas opens, click “Adjust length” → Make it shorter
3. Highlight the greeting and ask: “Make this more casual”
4. Click “Final polish” to clean it up
5. Copy the result!

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Canvas for Code

If you’re learning to code (or just need to generate code), Canvas shines:

Code-Specific Features

Feature	What It Does
Add comments	Explains what each part does
Add logs	Inserts debugging statements
Fix bugs	Reviews and corrects errors
Port to language	Converts code to another programming language

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Other Advanced Features

Image Generation (ChatGPT Plus)

ChatGPT Plus includes DALL-E 3 for creating images.

How to use it:

• Just describe what you want: “Create an image of a sunset over a beach with palm trees”
• AI generates it in seconds
• You can request changes: “Make the sky more orange”

🎯 Fun Fact: DALL-E is named after Salvador Dalí (the surrealist artist) and WALL-E (the Pixar robot). It combines art and AI!

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Data Analysis (ChatGPT Plus)

How to Use It

1. Click the paperclip icon to upload a file
2. Upload your spreadsheet
3. Ask questions: “What are the trends in this data?” or “Create a chart showing sales by month”

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Custom Instructions

Make ChatGPT remember your preferences across all conversations.

Setting Custom Instructions

1. Click your profile icon (top-right)
2. Select “Customize ChatGPT”
3. Fill in two sections:
   • What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?
   • How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

Example Custom Instructions

What to include:

I run a small bakery in Melbourne. I'm not technical.
I prefer simple explanations without jargon.

How to respond:

Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and examples.
Be encouraging and friendly.
Explain terms I might not know.

Now every conversation starts with this context!

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Voice Conversations (Mobile App)

The ChatGPT mobile app lets you talk to AI instead of typing.

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GPTs: Custom AI Assistants

ChatGPT Plus users can create or use custom “GPTs” - specialized versions of ChatGPT.

Popular GPT Examples

GPT Name	What It Does
Writing Coach	Specialized feedback on writing
Data Analyst	Excel at working with spreadsheets
Coding Tutor	Teaching programming concepts
Logo Creator	Designs logos based on descriptions

Finding GPTs

1. Click “Explore GPTs” in the sidebar
2. Browse by category
3. Click one to try it

You can even create your own specialized GPT without coding!

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Web Browsing (ChatGPT Plus)

ChatGPT Plus can browse the internet when needed.

What This Means

• Can access current information
• Look up recent news
• Visit websites you specify
• Verify facts in real-time

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Try This Now: Explore Advanced Features

If you have ChatGPT Plus, try:

1. Canvas: Ask to write a document
2. Image generation: “Create an image of a cozy coffee shop”
3. Set custom instructions: Tell it your preferences
4. Explore GPTs: Find a specialized assistant

If you’re on the free plan, Canvas still works for writing!

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Is ChatGPT Plus Worth $20/Month?

Free vs Plus Comparison

Feature	Free	Plus ($20/mo)
Model	GPT-3.5	GPT-4o, GPT-4
Canvas	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Image generation	❌ No	✅ Yes
Internet browsing	❌ No	✅ Yes
Data analysis	❌ No	✅ Yes
Custom GPTs	❌ No	✅ Yes
Response speed	Slower	Faster
Access during peak	Limited	Priority

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Key Takeaways

• Canvas provides a side-by-side workspace for writing and editing with AI
• ChatGPT Plus adds image generation, data analysis, and web browsing
• Custom instructions make ChatGPT remember your preferences
• Voice conversations work surprisingly naturally on mobile
• Custom GPTs are specialized AI assistants for specific tasks
• Free version is powerful; Plus is worth it if you use AI daily

Next up: Free vs paid AI models - making the right choice for your needs!