SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Instructure, the leading learning ecosystem and maker of Canvas, unveiled a significant set of updates at its “New and Next” event, highlighting the launch of IgniteAI. Following its initial introduction at InstructureCon, the first wave of features has now been released as part of the November update. The enhancements reflect the commitments made at InstructureCon in July, emphasizing a secure, transparent, and outcomes-focused educational infrastructure that prioritizes both pedagogical value and stringent data privacy.
In a landscape inundated with isolated AI solutions, Instructure’s strategy stands out by fostering an open, education-first ecosystem that emphasizes interoperability, transparency, and user-friendliness. This approach positions Instructure as a reliable long-term partner for educational institutions confronting the rapid advancements in AI technology.
The newest IgniteAI capabilities aim to enhance teaching efficiency and promote equitable learning experiences. These updates provide educators with intuitive tools designed to streamline insights, alleviate workloads, and ensure consistent instructional practices. Notable features include:
Discussion Insights, an analytics-driven enhancement that reveals patterns in student engagement by identifying trends and sentiment, allowing instructors to discern which students might require additional support without combing through every post manually.
Rubric Generator is another significant tool, enabling educators to create high-quality rubrics in seconds. By analyzing assignment descriptions and learning outcomes, this AI-assisted feature produces customizable criteria that save instructors time and enhance grading consistency. Giorgio Lagna, a professor at Foothill College who tested the feature, remarked, “Good rubrics are essential for good grading. With IgniteAI, I draft rubrics faster… I stay in charge the whole time.”
A third feature, IgniteAI Translations, facilitates real-time, context-aware translations in classroom discussions and communications, fostering inclusivity and equitable communication in multilingual learning environments.
Instructure is also committed to fostering trust and transparency through a privacy-first framework. The company has expanded its “AI Nutrition Facts” labels to detail the workings of its AI features, providing clarity on the models in use, data access, and privacy measures. Key privacy features include a Closed-Loop System ensuring that AI interactions remain within institutional environments, a Strict Opt-In policy empowering institutions to control features at various levels, and a transparency commitment that clearly identifies AI tools within the platform.
The updates are designed to align educational practices with clearly defined learning outcomes, reinforcing the connection between course objectives and student learning evidence. IgniteAI not only aims to support but also enhances the workflow of educators, allowing them to concentrate on impactful teaching.
At the core of this initiative is IgniteAI, powered by AWS Bedrock, which is engineered to automate routine tasks like rubric creation and grading, thereby allowing educators to focus on mentoring. As part of preparing for an advanced phase of AI, Instructure has introduced the IgniteAI Agent, which automates complex workflows for users. Currently, over 30,000 educators are utilizing this tool to enhance task efficiency and maintain consistency across their courses. Instructure plans to make the IgniteAI Agent globally available by March 2026, with free access until June 30, 2026.
In addition, Instructure is advancing the LLM-Enabled Assignment, which integrates a conversational learning assistant directly into assignments. This feature allows educators to embed authentic assessments into the natural learning process, providing valuable feedback and insights into student reasoning.
“Over the past year, we promised to build an ecosystem where AI amplifies human potential rather than replacing it,” stated Shiren Vijiasingam, Chief Product Officer at Instructure. “With IgniteAI and our outcomes-focused approach, we are delivering on that promise. We are moving beyond generic creation to true in-context educator support, including the industry-leading Ignite AI Agent capable of managing any educational workflow.”
Instructure’s latest advancements exemplify its commitment to shaping a future-ready educational ecosystem that empowers both educators and learners to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. The company continues to connect educators, institutions, and students across all levels of education, enhancing experiences at crucial transitions.
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