Shopify debuts Canvas, a way to build online stores by chatting with AI

Shopify launched Canvas, a real-time AI-driven site builder that lets merchants create a Shopify store by chatting with the Sidekick agent. Canvas renders the actual code, allowing merchants to test interactivity, view responsive layouts, and zoom into details while Sidekick updates theme files directly. The current desktop-only release omits third-party themes, app blocks, translations, and market features, which Shopify plans to add later.