The Artifact (or Canvas)🛠️

AI's way of creating things you can save and edit, simplified

Start Here (30 seconds):

An artifact is when AI creates something substantial that you can see, save, and modify - like a document, code, or visual content that appears in a separate box.

Think of it like:

  • AI handing you a finished document instead of just talking about it

  • Getting a draft you can actually use, not just advice

  • Receiving a tool or template you can modify and keep

Examples of artifacts:

  • "Write me a business plan" → Gets you an actual document with sections and content

  • "Create a workout routine" → Gets you a formatted schedule you can follow

  • "Make a budget template" → Gets you a spreadsheet-like tool you can customize

Make It Better:

Getting more useful artifacts:

  • "Make this into a template I can reuse"

  • "Format this as a document I can save"

  • "Create this as something I can edit"

  • "Turn this into a step-by-step guide"

  • "Make this more detailed and structured"

Level Up (When Ready):

Create a [TYPE OF DOCUMENT] for [PURPOSE] that includes [SPECIFIC SECTIONS].
Make it something I can customize for my situation.

Example: "Create a meeting agenda template for team check-ins that includes project updates, blockers, and next steps. Make it something I can customize for my situation."

When you get artifacts:

  • Save them - Copy to your notes or documents

  • Modify them - Ask AI to update specific parts

  • Reuse them - Use as templates for similar needs

  • Share them - Forward to colleagues or friends

Your Turn:

  1. Ask for something concrete: "Create a [THING] for [PURPOSE]"

  2. See if you get an artifact (separate box with content)

  3. Ask to modify it: "Change the [SPECIFIC PART]"

Which AIs Have Artifacts?

Artifact-Enabled:

  • Claude (Anthropic) ✅ - Full artifact system for documents, code, and templates

  • ChatGPT (OpenAI) ✅ - "Canvas" feature for editing documents and code

Chat-Only:

  • Gemini (Google) ❌ - Great responses, but you copy-paste to save

  • Perplexity ❌ - Excellent research with sources, but no artifacts

Strategic Tip:

For dual AI workflows, consider:

  1. Research with Perplexity (sourced information)

  2. Create final deliverable with Claude or ChatGPT (get artifacts you can save/edit)

That's it! You now know how to get AI to create actual things, not just advice.

Ready for more? Try Writing (improve documents) or Solutions (tackle big problems).