Google Sheets Canvas Brings Interactive Mini-Apps to Spreadsheets

Google has released a new feature in its Sheets app called Canvas, which allows users to turn their spreadsheets into interactive mini-apps using plain-language prompts. The feature, powered by Gemini, aims to simplify navigating complex data and eliminate the need for manual building of dashboards using complex formulas.

Users can select 'Create canvas' from the Ask Gemini side panel in Google Sheets and describe the exact layout they need without touching a single line of code. The resulting mini-apps are dynamic and read-write, with real-time synchronization between the visual layer and the underlying spreadsheet data.

The feature has several practical use cases, including project tracking, event planning, and fantasy sports management. Google also highlighted examples such as students converting assignment lists into visual study planners and operations leads building custom command centers to compare performance metrics.