Canva reduced its projected growth rate for 2026 from 30% to 20%, signaling a slowdown for the design platform, according to saastr.com. This adjustment highlights challenges faced by pre-AI products as AI-driven agents increasingly bypass traditional tools like Canva in favor of automated solutions. The shift was noted during a recent SaaStr discussion on the evolving SaaS landscape.
The SaaStr analysis detailed how internal AI agents built an entire ad creative operation without ever using Canva or Notion, despite these being paid and well-liked products. The agents were tested by assigning them tasks without instructions to use existing tools, and they consistently chose alternatives over Canva. This suggests that AI agents may not consider some established SaaS products relevant or necessary in automated workflows.
This trend underscores a broader market shift where AI is replacing specialists and traditional software categories. Canva, which disrupted design by enabling non-designers to create visuals without HTML or professional designers, now faces competition from AI that can generate creative content autonomously. Similar impacts are seen in no-code platforms like Airtable and Notion, which are also being bypassed by AI agents that automate those functions.
The SaaStr report emphasized that products designed to replace specialists are losing ground as AI agents take over those roles. The growth cut by Canva reflects this shift, as AI agents do not incorporate these tools into their processes. This development was discussed in the SaaStr article published this week, marking a notable moment in SaaS evolution driven by AI.