Cursor Launches Groundbreaking AI Coding Tool for Designers
Cursor, a rapidly growing AI startup, has unveiled a revolutionary new tool that enables designers to create and edit web applications using artificial intelligence. Dubbed "Visual Editor," this innovative platform promises to bring design capabilities directly into the coding environment, streamlining the collaboration between developers and designers.
The Visual Editor is designed to be an extension of Cursor's existing browser, which allows users to view requests from real users and access Chrome-style developer tools. With Visual Editor, designers can point the tool at any live site – not just their own – and inspect it as if they were inside that site's code base. This feature enables them to tweak the design, typography, background colors, and other elements in real-time using the same controls available for in-progress apps.
What sets Visual Editor apart from existing vibe-coding platforms is its focus on precision and respect for a company's unique design language. Unlike generic-looking websites produced by AI-powered apps, Visual Editor allows designers to fine-tune corner radii, adjust letter spacing, or change menu orientation without sacrificing the brand's aesthetic. This approach maps every control directly to real CSS code, ensuring that designers are working within the actual system that ships to users.
Cursor's CEO, Ryo Lu, explains that the company aims to capture more of the software creation process by providing a platform where developers and designers can collaborate seamlessly. "The core that we care about, professional developers, never changes," he says. "But in reality, developers are not alone. They work with many people, and anyone making software should be able to find something useful out of Cursor."
By integrating design capabilities directly into its coding environment, Cursor is tackling the challenge of bridging the gap between design and development teams. The startup's ambitions extend beyond vibe-coding tools; Roman Ugarte, head of growth, mentions that the company might develop similar features for product managers or other roles in the future.
Demand for Cursor's design tools is already emerging organically, according to Martin Casado, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Designers at companies like Shopify are reportedly using Cursor's tools, which could pose a challenge to incumbents like Adobe or Figma. However, Casado notes that the market is large enough to support multiple approaches as software creation becomes more accessible to people working in various roles.
Cursor's Visual Editor is set to raise the bar for what designers can do with AI-powered tools, offering precision control and respect for design language. As the startup continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it seems poised to become a leading player in the rapidly evolving field of AI software creation.
Cursor, a rapidly growing AI startup, has unveiled a revolutionary new tool that enables designers to create and edit web applications using artificial intelligence. Dubbed "Visual Editor," this innovative platform promises to bring design capabilities directly into the coding environment, streamlining the collaboration between developers and designers.
The Visual Editor is designed to be an extension of Cursor's existing browser, which allows users to view requests from real users and access Chrome-style developer tools. With Visual Editor, designers can point the tool at any live site – not just their own – and inspect it as if they were inside that site's code base. This feature enables them to tweak the design, typography, background colors, and other elements in real-time using the same controls available for in-progress apps.
What sets Visual Editor apart from existing vibe-coding platforms is its focus on precision and respect for a company's unique design language. Unlike generic-looking websites produced by AI-powered apps, Visual Editor allows designers to fine-tune corner radii, adjust letter spacing, or change menu orientation without sacrificing the brand's aesthetic. This approach maps every control directly to real CSS code, ensuring that designers are working within the actual system that ships to users.
Cursor's CEO, Ryo Lu, explains that the company aims to capture more of the software creation process by providing a platform where developers and designers can collaborate seamlessly. "The core that we care about, professional developers, never changes," he says. "But in reality, developers are not alone. They work with many people, and anyone making software should be able to find something useful out of Cursor."
By integrating design capabilities directly into its coding environment, Cursor is tackling the challenge of bridging the gap between design and development teams. The startup's ambitions extend beyond vibe-coding tools; Roman Ugarte, head of growth, mentions that the company might develop similar features for product managers or other roles in the future.
Demand for Cursor's design tools is already emerging organically, according to Martin Casado, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Designers at companies like Shopify are reportedly using Cursor's tools, which could pose a challenge to incumbents like Adobe or Figma. However, Casado notes that the market is large enough to support multiple approaches as software creation becomes more accessible to people working in various roles.
Cursor's Visual Editor is set to raise the bar for what designers can do with AI-powered tools, offering precision control and respect for design language. As the startup continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it seems poised to become a leading player in the rapidly evolving field of AI software creation.