Shopify has launched Canvas, a new AI powered website builder that lets merchants create and edit online stores by chatting with the company’s Sidekick assistant. Previously, Shopify’s no-code tools allowed merchants to customize themes by rearranging sections and blocks, but more advanced changes often required editing code directly or hiring a developer. Canvas is designed to reduce that need by letting users describe what they want in natural language instead. As Sidekick makes changes, Canvas renders the actual store in real time rather than showing a static preview. Shopify says Canvas displays the real code behind the storefront, allowing merchants to test animations, interactions and layouts as they would actually appear on the live site.