Google Data Canvas Assistant
Overview
| Year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Team | Google Cloud Data and Analytics AI |
| Product | Data Canvas |
| Role | Lead Product Designer |
An AI-first infinite canvas workspace for data exploration and collaboration, integrated into Google Cloud’s BigQuery.
Summary
The Data Canvas Assistant was an early-stage, cutting-edge agentic experience in Google Cloud’s data warehouse, BigQuery. The assistant used the canvas as a tool to perform data analysis where users could see the agent’s work.
The assistant experience was showcased in the Google Cloud Next 2025 keynote, where it allowed BigQuery to reposition itself from a traditional, enterprise data warehouse to a dedicated data-to-AI platform.
Early Entrypoint Idea
Floating Bubbles
An early concept was to have the chat surfaced as ephemeral chat bubbles over the canvas.
Context Engineering
The initial design was a flexible input that could accept prompts, data, or agent instructions.
Across BigQuery
Other in-place agents emerged across BigQuery, requiring a redesign to align needs.
Redesign
The agent had to be placed in a container to better integrate with other non-canvas products within BigQuery.
Add Data & Agent Status
If the user asks a question without adding data, the system suggests tables they can use.
Agent statuses like “Creating a visualization” are shown as the agent performs its analysis
Context Engineering & Agent Publishing
As context engineering grew more complex, a side panel was used to accommodate more robust inputs.
Sharing
The idea of agent publishing was explored. This work eventually informed a large agent building and sharing project across BigQuery.
Assistant in Canvas
Agent Settings
Google Cloud Next 2025 Keynote
The assistant experience was showcased in the Google Cloud Next 2025 keynote, where it allowed BigQuery to reposition itself from a traditional, enterprise data warehouse to a dedicated data-to-AI platform.