Figma, a company best known for its product design applications, has recently announced the launch of FigJam AI, a suite of generative AI tools for its collaborative whiteboard service FigJam. FigJam AI is designed to create ready-to-use templates for common design and planning projects, aiming to reduce the manual preparation time typically required to create these projects from scratch, thus allowing designers to focus their time and effort on more pressing tasks.
The FigJam AI suite is currently available in open beta, starting November 7th. Interestingly, Figma has specified that FigJam AI is “currently free” for all customer tiers during this beta period. This has prompted many to question whether FigJam AI will remain free once it enters general availability. Nevertheless, the announcement of this new suite has generated a buzz of excitement and curiosity among designers and creators.
A key feature of FigJam AI is the new Generate tool, which provides a range of suggested prompts to create templates for various collaborative whiteboard projects, including flowcharts, icebreakers, brainstorming sessions, and 1:1 meeting planners. Additionally, the tool offers a text box where users can describe what they want to generate in their own words. What sets FigJam AI apart is its inclusion of AI-generated default descriptions to accompany the content. For instance, when generating a Gantt chart, the AI might suggest adding a timeline, the number of projects, and project milestones. This feature not only streamlines the process of creating collaborative whiteboard projects but also empowers users to customize and modify the generated content according to their specific needs.
Another notable feature of FigJam AI is the Sort function, which automatically groups together stickies (the virtual equivalent of real sticky notes for jotting down ideas) under common themes, thereby bringing structure to an otherwise chaotic whiteboard. Furthermore, the Summarize tool provides a convenient way to extract key information from groups of stickies with a single click. These features can be used alongside Jambot, a ChatGPT-powered FigJam widget that was introduced in beta in August. The combination of these features showcases Figma’s commitment to integrating AI into its platform to enhance collaboration and productivity.
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In an interview with The Verge, Figma co-founder and CEO Dylan Field hinted at the company’s plans for further AI-related developments beyond the initial features introduced in FigJam AI. Field emphasized the strategic approach taken by Figma, stating, “For FigJam I think we’ve been really strategic… It really matters that you’re not doing everything that you can possibly think of, but rather the things that are most impactful.” This sentiment underscores Figma’s intention to focus on integrating AI in a deep and meaningful way, prioritizing features that have a significant impact on users’ experience and productivity.
The current FigJam AI beta uses OpenAI foundation models, and Field has suggested that these models can be easily swapped out for other foundation AI models in the future. This flexibility offers the potential for further advancements and refinements in FigJam AI, allowing Figma to adapt to evolving AI technologies and methodologies.
Overall, Figma’s introduction of FigJam AI represents a significant step forward in the realm of collaborative design and productivity tools. By leveraging the power of generative AI, Figma aims to revolutionize the way designers and creators collaborate and plan their projects. With the promise of streamlined workflows and enhanced customization capabilities, FigJam AI holds great potential to become an invaluable asset for design and planning teams worldwide.
