The term "vibe coding" has been circulating, even making an appearance during the Super Bowl, alongside mentions of AI coding environments like Claude Code and Codex. But the experience isn't confined to specialized platforms – it's surprisingly accessible, right now, within Google Search.
To begin, simply navigate to Google Search. Look for the "AI Mode" button, then click the "+" symbol within the search box and select "Canvas." From there, the possibilities unfold; you can request almost anything – an application, a website, a tool – and witness the AI respond.
A simple request, like “can you give me a working prototype of a commerce web site for t-shirts?” initiates a fascinating process. Gemini, Google’s AI, visibly begins to work, its thought process displayed in a column as lines of code rapidly populate the Canvas on the right.
Almost instantly, the scrolling code resolves into a tangible result: a functional prototype of a T-shirt commerce website, precisely as requested. It’s a demonstration of speed and capability that feels remarkably immediate.
This isn’t a fully live website, at least not initially. However, it serves as a powerful starting point, with the generated code easily transferable to dedicated AI coding tools like Claude Code, OpenAI’s Codex, or Google Antigravity for further development.
Pushing the boundaries, a more complex request – “make me a dashboard that shows the location of subway trains in the area” – yielded equally impressive results. Gemini integrated live New York MTA subway data, creating a functioning app with a “live” indicator and real-time readouts.
Initial imperfections, such as a broad geographical focus, were easily rectified with a simple follow-up prompt: “make the app focus on the Carroll Gardens shop.” Gemini responded instantly, refining the app to meet the specific need.
Launched last year as a Google Labs experiment, Canvas in AI Mode is now available to all U.S. users (currently in English only). Beyond website and app prototypes, it excels at drafting creative content, building dashboards with live search results, and much more – limited only by your imagination.
The Canvas project offers both a preview mode for immediate interaction and a toggle to reveal the underlying code, allowing for copying and customization. Iteration is seamless; simply type in a new prompt to request changes or revisions.
The experience echoes the Canvas tool within the Gemini app, offering similar rapid prototyping capabilities. It also shares similarities with third-party “no-code” tools like Lovable, which specialize in instant website prototypes.
However, Canvas in AI Mode stands out as an exceptionally accessible entry point for anyone curious about “vibe coding,” offering an immediate and intuitive experience. It’s an invitation to explore the potential of AI-assisted creation firsthand.
