TLDRs;
- Figma launches AI editing tool and Design Snapshot feature to enhance collaboration and streamline design-to-code workflows.
- New MCP server updates give developers remote access to Figma design files via AI tools and coding environments.
- Design Snapshot bridges prototypes from Figma Make into editable layers within Figma Design, boosting flexibility for teams.
- Despite leadership downplaying AI risks, analysts expect Figma’s AI adoption to accelerate industry-wide transformation in design.
Figma, the web-based collaborative design platform, is deepening its investment in artificial intelligence with a fresh wave of features designed to streamline workflows for designers, developers, and teams.
The company on Tuesday announced an AI-powered editing tool for its design canvas and the rollout of a Design Snapshot function that allows snapshots from Figma Make to be seamlessly converted into editable layers in Figma Design.
The updates are part of a broader strategy to integrate AI more directly into creative processes while strengthening Figma’s competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven design industry.
AI Editing Inside the Canvas
The new AI editing tool is being tested directly within the design canvas, allowing users to interact more intuitively with prototypes and visual elements.
Instead of manually adjusting every detail, designers will be able to prompt AI models to make changes, fine-tune layouts, or even generate alternatives on demand.
By embedding AI directly into the canvas, Figma is attempting to reduce friction between ideation and execution. This move builds on industry trends where AI is not replacing designers outright but instead assisting them in curating, refining, and accelerating their work. Analysts argue that such tools could help designers spend less time on repetitive tweaks and more time on high-level creative direction.
Remote Access Through MCP Updates
Beyond the canvas, Figma has upgraded its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, a technical backbone that allows AI agents and coding tools to access design files remotely. Developers can now use AI models to engage with the underlying code behind prototypes and projects built in Figma Make, the company’s prompt-to-app coding tool.
The MCP server update opens compatibility with Anthropic, Cursor, Windsurf, and Visual Studio Code. Importantly, it also enables browser-based AI models and integrated development environments (IDEs) to access Figma without requiring a desktop application, making it easier for developers to connect and collaborate in cloud-based environments.
Figma has also indicated that future iterations will allow third-party MCP servers to link directly with Figma Make, further broadening the ecosystem for AI-driven design development.
Design Snapshot Bridges Make and Design
The introduction of the Design Snapshot feature highlights Figma’s goal of closing the gap between its creative and coding environments. Snapshots taken from Figma Make can now be converted into editable layers within Figma Design.
This capability empowers designers and developers to move fluidly between code prototypes and visual layers without losing flexibility. Instead of being stuck with static outputs, teams can edit, iterate, and refine designs based on snapshots, effectively merging the creative and technical sides of product development.
Navigating AI’s Role in Design
Figma’s leadership remains cautiously optimistic about AI. CEO Dylan Field recently commented that AI does not pose an immediate threat to the company’s design software business. He pointed to Figma’s complex graphics engine and collaborative platform as differentiators that are not easily replicated by AI.
Industry observers, however, note that AI is already reshaping design workflows. From automated prototyping to AI-generated layouts, the market for AI-enhanced design tools is projected to expand rapidly. Rather than replacing human creativity, AI is expected to shift designers toward “curator” roles, where they guide and refine AI outputs.
