Use Zapier AI to suggest new Canvas steps
Zapier offers an AI-powered way to suggest new steps directly on your Canvas so you can design, refine, and automate your workflows faster with less manual setup.
This guide explains how to turn on AI suggestions, where to find them, and how to add suggested steps to your automation map. You will also learn how to review, adjust, or request new ideas from the AI assistant while you work.
What the Zapier AI Canvas assistant can do
The AI assistant on Canvas helps you brainstorm and structure automations by suggesting new workflow steps based on your existing apps and goals.
With the Canvas AI step suggestions you can:
- Ask for new steps that connect two or more apps.
- Fill gaps between existing steps on your map.
- Receive recommendations for triggers, actions, and filters.
- Quickly add suggested steps to your Canvas layout.
The suggestions appear in a side panel so you can review and choose what to add without changing your existing map until you are ready.
Requirements for using Zapier Canvas AI suggestions
Before you start, make sure you have:
- A Zapier account with access to Canvas.
- At least one Canvas created or a new blank Canvas ready to design.
- Any required app connections for the tools you plan to include in your workflow.
The AI assistant is available within the Canvas interface and does not require a separate installation or extension.
How to open Zapier Canvas and access AI
Follow these steps to reach the Canvas view where you can use AI suggestions:
- Sign in to your Zapier account.
- From your dashboard, open an existing Canvas or create a new Canvas from the Canvas section.
- Wait for the Canvas editor to load. You will see your current workflow map or a blank space if you are starting from scratch.
Once Canvas is open, you can ask the AI assistant to help you create or expand your automation.
Ask Zapier AI to suggest a new step
When you want help filling in a missing part of your workflow, you can ask the Canvas AI assistant to suggest a new step.
Open the AI assistant panel in Zapier Canvas
In the Canvas editor, the AI features are available in a panel on the right side of the screen.
- Look for the AI prompt area or assistant icon on the right side of the Canvas.
- Click the prompt box to activate the AI panel.
- Confirm that the panel opens and shows an area where you can type instructions or questions.
This panel is where you will interact with the AI assistant to get suggestions for your next steps.
Describe the workflow change you want
To get useful suggestions, clearly explain what you want the suggested step to accomplish.
For example, you can type:
- “Suggest a step between collecting form responses and sending emails.”
- “Add a step that filters leads based on their country.”
- “Recommend an action after a new task is created in my project tool.”
The more specific your request, the better the Zapier AI suggestions will match your needs.
Review the Zapier AI suggested steps
After you send your prompt, the AI assistant will analyze your Canvas and return one or more suggested steps.
In the AI panel, you will typically see:
- A short description of the suggested step.
- The type of step, such as trigger, action, filter, or path.
- Any linked apps that the step may use.
You can scroll through the suggestions and decide which ones you want to add to your workflow map.
Add an AI-suggested step to your Zapier Canvas
Once you find a suggestion that fits your automation, you can add it directly to Canvas with a single click.
Insert a suggestion into your map
- In the AI panel, locate the suggested step you want to add.
- Click the button or option to add the suggestion to Canvas. This may appear as a call-to-action next to the suggestion description.
- Canvas updates and places the new step onto the map, usually near the location that best matches your existing flow.
If you have selected an existing step before asking for help, the new suggested step will often appear in relation to that selected element.
Adjust the Zapier Canvas layout after adding a step
After the suggestion is added, you can adjust its position like any other step on Canvas.
- Drag the step to a new location in the map.
- Connect it to other steps by drawing lines or linking nodes according to your desired path.
- Rename the step so it matches your team’s naming style.
These layout changes do not affect your live Zaps until you convert your Canvas into an active automation.
Configure the new Zapier step details
The AI assistant suggests structure and possible apps, but you still control the final configuration of the step.
- Click the newly added step on your Canvas.
- Open the configuration or settings section that appears for that step.
- Choose or confirm the app, event, and fields required for the step.
- Test the step if testing options are available, so you can confirm it behaves as expected.
If the suggestion does not fully match what you want, you can modify any fields, conditions, or connections until the step works correctly.
Refine your Zapier workflow using multiple AI suggestions
You can ask for suggestions more than once as you build your Canvas automation.
- Request ideas for different segments of the workflow.
- Ask the AI assistant to fill in missing logic between two points.
- Iterate by adding suggestions, making edits, and then requesting more improvements.
Using the Canvas AI assistant in short cycles helps you refine complex automations while staying in control of the final design.
Tips for better Zapier AI Canvas results
For more accurate and useful Zapier AI suggestions, keep these tips in mind:
- Describe the outcome you want, not just the app name.
- Mention key data points, such as “email address” or “deal value,” when asking for help.
- Highlight business rules like “only for new customers” or “skip internal addresses.”
- Use plain language; technical jargon is not required.
If a suggestion is not quite right, adjust your prompt to clarify what you need and ask the AI to try again.
Where to learn more about Zapier Canvas AI
You can read the original help documentation about asking AI to suggest a new step for your Canvas on the official support site: Zapier Canvas AI step suggestions guide.
For broader automation strategy, workflow planning, and optimization techniques that complement your Zapier setups, you can explore additional resources at Consultevo.
By combining the Canvas interface with the AI step suggestion feature, you can design powerful, visual automations, adjust them quickly, and turn them into fully functional Zaps when you are ready to automate your work.
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