In July 2025, Canvas and OpenAI announced a global partnership to integrate AI features into the Canvas learning platform. This ongoing integration will introduce a variety of AI-powered tools over the coming year. Faculty will have the ability to opt in to any AI features that are enabled at the account level.
Smart Search
Smart Search is a course-specific feature designed to help faculty and students quickly locate relevant information within course pages, announcements, discussion prompts, and assignment descriptions. This feature has been enabled at the university level, and instructors can choose to activate it for individual courses by following the steps below:
In Course Navigation, click the Settings link.
Click the Feature Options tab.
Look for Smart Search and click the red X to update to Enabled
You will now see the Smart Search tool within your course navigation
Learn more about AI in Canvas in the Canvas Community
Canvas and Open AI Press Release
Learn more about Feature Options