Canvas includes a growing range of AI-powered tools from Instructure's IgniteAI suite. These tools are designed to help educators create content, manage courses, analyse learning activity, and support students in their studies. AI features are integrated directly into Canvas workflows, allowing users to access them within the platform rather than using separate external services.
This page provides an overview of the AI tools currently available in Canvas, explains how to identify when you are interacting with AI, and outlines how data may be used when AI features are enabled.
How to Recognise an AI Feature in Canvas
Instructure identifies AI-powered functionality using IgniteAI branding, AI labels, AI icons, or AI-specific buttons and menu options. Depending on the feature, users may see labels such as:
- AI-generated summary
- Generate with AI
- AI Assistant
- IgniteAI
- AI Suggestions
Canvas AI Features
AI Search for Courses (Smart Search)
What it does
AI Search helps users find relevant content within Canvas courses using contextual and semantic search rather than relying only on exact keyword matches.
Where you will find it
- Course search interfaces
- Global search areas where enabled
How to identify it
- Search results may indicate that AI-powered search is being used
- Search functionality may be labelled Smart Search or IgniteAI Search
Data used
The service analyses:
- Search queries entered by users
Course content such as pages, assignments, announcements, and discussions to generate relevant search results
Discussion Summaries
What it does
Discussion Summaries automatically generate concise summaries of discussion threads, helping instructors quickly understand key themes and questions without reading every post.
Where you will find it
- Within Canvas Discussions
How to identify it
- AI-generated summary panel
- Summary button or "Generate Summary" option
Data used
The tool analyses:
- Discussion posts
- Discussion replies
- Associated discussion content
to create summaries of participant contributions.
AI Question Authoring for Quizzes
What it does
This tool assists instructors in creating quiz questions based on course content, uploaded files, or text entered by the user.
Where you will find it
- New Quizzes
- Quiz editing interfaces
How to identify it
- AI question generation options
- Generate Questions button
Data used
The tool may analyse:
- Uploaded documents
- Course content
- Instructor-provided text
to generate draft quiz questions.
How Instructure Uses Data for AI Features
Instructure's AI features are designed with transparency, institutional control, privacy, and compliance in mind. Instructure provides AI-specific disclosures through its framework and states that customer data is not used to train AI models without customer consent.
The data processed will vary depending on the feature being used, but may include:
- User prompts and questions
- Course content
- Assignments and rubrics
- Discussion posts and replies
- Assessment information
- Learning analytics data
- Administrative reporting data
Only the information required to deliver the requested AI functionality should be processed. Institutions retain control over which AI features are enabled within their Canvas environment.
AI Transparency and Trust Documentation
For complete and up-to-date information regarding AI models, privacy, security, compliance, data handling, and processing activities, users should consult Instructure's official AI transparency resources:
AI Nutrition Facts
Provides feature-specific information about:
- AI models used
- Data inputs
- Data outputs
- Privacy controls
- Compliance considerations
- Limitations and intended use
Available within supported IgniteAI features and through the .
IgniteAI Documentation
The provides product overviews and explanations of how AI capabilities are implemented within Canvas.
Instructure Trust Center
The contains security, privacy, compliance, and governance documentation, including materials relating to AI and data protection.