Summary

Instructure's Ignite AI is an integrated suite of artificial intelligence features built directly into the Canvas learning management system. These tools are designed to assist in developing course content, enhance communication, and provide valuable insights within courses. By embedding AI into existing workflows, Ignite AI aims to save time for educators and foster more engaging, inclusive, and efficient learning environments.

Privacy Safeguards

Instructure has documented safeguards put in place to protect the privacy of data in your Canvas course when using AI. These safeguards will come into play if and when AI features in Canvas are turned on.

• The AI models used in Canvas are not trained with user data.
• User data is not stored or reused by the models.
• The AI features do not intentionally send personally identifiable information (PII) to the model. However, PII in discussion replies may be unintentionally sent to a model.

The AI features in Canvas allow you to manage and adjust AI settings. For detailed information on the basic functions of Canvas AI and their corresponding safeguards, please see the AI “Nutrition Facts” articles provided by Instructure.

Ignite AI Availability & Pilots

Here are five key features of the Ignite AI suite: the Generator for Rubrics,  Insights for Discussions, Discussion Summaries, Translations for Discussions, Announcements & Inbox, and IgniteAI Search. ET&S is consistently evaluating these features before release and determining which if any to make available. If Canvas IgniteAI features are available within our Canvas environments, this article will be reflect in documenting what is available.  

Some of the Canvas Ignite AI features will be designated to be in a pilot phase (ie to be available and tested until June 2026, at which point they may be turned off and be further evaluated). If not in pilot phase, and available within Canvas the term we will use to designate as such is: Standard Canvas AI.  If any of these features are a pilot, it will be noted in the article below. Additionally, the populations who the AI tool is available to will be noted as well. 

IgniteAI: Generator for Rubrics

IgniteAI: Discussion Summaries

IgniteAI: Insights for Discussions

IgniteAI: Translations for Discussions, Announcements & Inbox

IgniteAI Search

Content

IgniteAI: Generator for Rubrics

Canvas User Audience: Faculty Only

Phase: Pilot (Available Until June 2026)* 

Canvas Environments where Available: Plymouth State, UNH

The Ignite AI Generator for Rubrics is a powerful tool that transforms the often tedious task of creating assessment rubrics into a quick, AI-assisted process. Educators can now draft high-quality, editable rubrics directly within Canvas based on the assignment's name and description.

Key benefits and features include:

• Time-Saving: The AI can convert manual drafting into a task that takes only a few minutes, freeing up valuable instructor time for more impactful activities like one-on-one student interaction.
• Customization: Instructors maintain full control, with options to adjust the number of criteria and rating levels, set point values, and provide additional prompts to tailor the rubric to specific needs.
• Consistency and Clarity: The tool helps ensure that rubrics are aligned with learning objectives and institutional standards, providing students with a clear understanding of expectations and promoting consistent grading.

How to Use Rubric Generation

 

IgniteAI: Discussion Summaries

Canvas User Audience: Faculty Only

Phase: Standard Canvas AI 

Canvas Environments where Available: Plymouth State, UNH 

Discussion Summaries use a Generative AI model to provide summaries of the main points, questions, and ideas in a discussion thread.

Some key benefits and features include:

• Automatically generates concise summaries of discussion threads, highlighting key points, questions, and ideas without requiring instructors to read every post. This is especially helpful in large-format classes or courses with heavy discussion activity.
• Makes discussions more practical in courses where they were previously difficult to manage due to volume, enabling instructors to quickly grasp the overall themes and tone of student contributions.
• Instructors can add prompts to focus on specific aspects (e.g., “concerns about grading policy” or “main arguments for and against the reading”), and regenerate summaries for different perspectives. 
• Helps instructors identify common themes, areas of confusion, and tone in discussions, which can inform follow-up teaching strategies or announcements.

How to Use Discussion Summaries 

 

IgniteAI: Insights for Discussions

Canvas User Audience: Faculty Only

Phase: Pilot (Available Until June 2026)*

Canvas Environments where Available: None as of December 2025

Discussions are a vital component of online learning, but manually reviewing every student post can be overwhelming for educators. Ignite AI: Insights for Discussions addresses this challenge by providing an AI-powered dashboard that helps instructors quickly evaluate student engagement and understanding.

• AI-Powered Evaluation: The tool analyzes student replies and provides AI-generated relevancy scores and evaluation notes based on how well posts align with the topic.
• Identifying Gaps: By spotting trends in the discussion, educators can quickly identify gaps in student understanding and engagement, allowing for timely intervention and targeted feedback.
• Instructor Support: The insights are intended to support the instructor's grading process and are not visible to students. The actual grading still occurs within SpeedGrader, where these insights can also be accessed.

How to Use Insights for Discussions

 

IgniteAI: Translations for Discussions, Announcements & Inbox

Canvas User Audience: Faculty, Students 

Phase: Standard Canvas AI 

Canvas Environments where Available: None as of December 2025

To foster truly inclusive and accessible learning environments, Ignite AI offers instant translation capabilities for key communication areas: Discussions, Announcements, and the Inbox. This feature breaks down language barriers, allowing diverse student populations and their families to participate fully in their preferred language.

• Instant Communication: With a single click, content can be translated instantly, displaying both the original text and the translated version to ensure full context and clarity.
• Multilingual Classrooms: This functionality allows students and teachers to interact seamlessly, ensuring every learner can confidently engage with course content and messages.
• Enhanced Accessibility: By eliminating the need for manual translation, this feature promotes equity and ensures that language differences do not limit participation or belonging within the educational community.

How to Use Discussion Translation 

IgniteAI Search

Canvas User Audience: Faculty, Students

Phase: Standard Canvas AI 

Canvas Environments where Available: Plymouth State and UNH 

An AI-powered search feature designed to help users find course content quickly and accurately. Instead of relying on simple keyword matching, IgniteAI Search uses semantic algorithms and AI embeddings to understand the context of your query. This means it can return results that are conceptually relevant, even if the exact words don’t match. This was formerly known as SmartSearch. 

Ignite AI Search includes: 

• Course Content: Pages, modules, assignments, quizzes, and files.
• Discussions: Posts and threads within discussion boards.
• Announcements & Inbox Messages: Communication within the course.
• Learning Outcomes & Rubrics: If linked to assignments or modules.
• Embedded Media & Documents: PDFs, videos, and other resources uploaded to the course.

How to Use Ignite AI Search

 

* Future availability will be determined in conjunction with Canvas and based on cost of technology, use during pilot phase, benefits of the technology, and potential other guidelines. 

Further Readings

Highlights from November Ignite AI

 

Need additional help?

Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request. For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.