Shopify has introduced Canvas, a store-building interface that lets merchants create and revise a storefront through a conversation with its Sidekick AI agent. Changes appear in real time across a zoomable view of the full site, reducing the need to rearrange theme blocks or edit code manually.
The preview is the actual store code being rendered, not a static mock-up. Merchants can test interactions and animation, inspect different screen sizes and continue editing individual elements directly. Sidekick captures screenshots as it works so the agent can compare its changes with the same visual result the merchant sees.
To support the workflow, Shopify gave Sidekick direct access to theme files and simplified the theme architecture so the agent can understand and modify the store’s structure, logic and design. Sidekick already supported code generation, app building and theme edits; Canvas brings those abilities into one visual site-building product.
The tool joins AI-assisted website builders from Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Framer and newer coding platforms. Shopify describes Canvas as an early product, so its reliability across complex stores remains unproven. Merchants will still need to review generated layouts, mobile behavior, checkout links and accessibility rather than assuming a conversational edit is ready to publish.