Google introduces AI coding app ‘Opal’ to rival OpenAI’s Canva

Google is testing a new AI-powered app development tool called “Opal,” designed to help users create simple web applications using just text prompts.

This experimental tool is currently available in the US through Google Labs, the company’s platform for testing emerging technologies.

Opal is part of the growing trend of “vibe-coding” tools, user-friendly platforms that let people build apps with minimal or no programming knowledge.

The AI tool enables users to either start from scratch by describing the app they want to make or remix existing ones from a public gallery.

Once a description is entered, Opal uses Google’s underlying AI models to generate the app.

The output appears in a visual workflow editor, where users can see how the application processes inputs and outputs.

Each step in the workflow includes editable prompts that drive the app’s behaviour, allowing users to refine or expand on functionality. Additional steps can also be added manually using a built-in toolbar.

Notably, users can test their apps directly, publish them online, and share them via links that others can access using their Google accounts.

While Google already offers AI-based app development through its AI Studio, Opal’s simplified interface and visual design suggest it’s aimed at a broader, less technical audience, similar to platforms like Canva, Figma, and Replit.