Google announces Pinterest rival Mixboard: What it is and how it works

Google

Google has launched a new tool called Mixboard, and many are calling it the company’s answer to Pinterest. But Mixboard is more than just a place to save pretty pictures. It is an AI-powered idea board that helps you create, organize, and refine your thoughts in a highly visual way.

So what exactly is Mixboard? Think of it as a digital canvas where you can collect images, text, and AI-generated visuals to explore new concepts. Whether you are planning a home makeover, designing an event, brainstorming product ideas, or even sketching out a DIY project, Mixboard gives you the tools to bring those ideas to life.

Here’s how it works:

--You can start a project by simply typing a text prompt, like “modern living room design” or “birthday party theme.” Mixboard will then generate a board filled with related images and ideas.

--If you already have visuals in mind, you can upload your own images or ask the AI to create unique ones for you.

--Editing is made simple. Instead of using complicated design software, you can just give natural language commands like “make this image brighter” or “combine these two pictures.” This is powered by Google’s new image editing model called Nano Banana.

--The platform also offers one-click tools such as “regenerate” and “more like this,” making it easy to explore variations of your ideas.

--Another neat feature is text generation. Mixboard can suggest captions, descriptions, or content based on the context of images on your board.

Right now, Mixboard is available in the U.S. as a public beta. Google is calling it an experiment from its Labs division, so it may evolve based on user feedback. Users can try it out at labs.google/mixboard and even join a Discord community to share ideas and track updates.

In short, Mixboard combines the inspiration-driven style of Pinterest with the creative power of generative AI. It is not just about collecting images but actively shaping ideas into something new. For anyone who likes visual planning, from casual creators to designers, this could be an exciting new tool to explore.