Our new AI Figure Generator helps you get to a first draft faster by turning simple text prompts into editable scientific figures—currently optimized for protocols and timelines. This tool removes the barrier of starting from a blank canvas by creating a ~70% complete figure that you can easily customize in your BioRender Canvas.
While AI-generated timelines had been previously launched as a closed beta, AI-generated protocols are a new addition. Integrated directly into the BioRender Editor, it uses BioRender’s trusted, scientifically accurate icons.
In addition to generating a draft for you, our tool will automatically run a search based on your figure prompt, surfacing related templates and icons you can quickly drag in to refine or adjust the output. This happens for all figures — even if a requested type isn’t fully supported, the tool will still return the closest matching templates and icons to help you start creating seamlessly. You can also regenerate figures, allowing for quick iterations and seamless adjustments, no matter the complexity of your request.
Please note: This feature is available as an open beta for Premium users who have opted in to the new BioRender Canvas. Click here to learn more about opting in.
How AI figure generation works
Generating your figure
- Open your BioRender Canvas to a blank slide
- Click the “...” button in the left toolbar
- Select Protocol Generator or Timeline Generator
- Type a short text description of your protocol or timeline
- Click the arrow to generate your figure
The AI will:
- Analyze your prompt
- Generate a layout and accompanying text
- Identify appropriate icons to support visualization
- Run a search for relevant templates and icons to support or refine your visualization
How to prompt
For best results, consider including a title for your protocol or timeline, and add bullet points (up to 8 steps).
Even if you provide rough notes or high-level steps, the tool will expand your input into a text caption for each step, giving you a meaningful starting point to refine.
In addition to generating a draft for you, our tool will automatically run a search based on your figure prompt, surfacing related templates and icons you can quickly drag in to refine or adjust the output. This happens for all figures - even if a requested type isn’t fully supported, the tool will still return the closest matching templates and icons to help you start creating seamlessly.
Example prompt for AI Protocol Generator:
Protocol for CAR T cell therapy that includes these steps:
- T cell extraction via leukapheresis
- Viral transduction with a CAR gene
- Ex vivo expansion of CAR T cells
- Patient preconditioning with chemotherapy
- Final infusion of the engineered cells.”
Example prompt for AI Timeline Generator:
Create a clinical study design showing the following:
Step 1: patients undergo MRI images of tumor site
Step 2: tumor tissue samples are assessed under microscopy
Step 3: next-generation sequencing is performed for tissue samples on Illumina platform
Step 4: data is fed into deep learning model
Step 5: development of personalized therapeutics
Refining and editing your figure
Once your fully-editable AI-generated figure appears, you can:
- Edit the prompt and regenerate a new version.
- Modify any icon for easy adjustments.
Please note: Our AI-powered figures are created using BioRender’s scientifically accurate, peer-reviewed icons. While we aim to generate high-quality drafts, we strongly recommend reviewing and customizing your figures to ensure they’re accurate and tailored to your needs.
Help us improve our AI figure generation tools
We’d love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us make the AI Figure Generator even better, whether something worked perfectly, missed the mark, or sparked an idea for improvement.
After generating a figure, you’ll see two ways to share feedback directly within the tool:
- Give Feedback button just below your prompt
- 👍 👎 icons just above your prompt
Clicking any of these opens a feedback window where you can tell us what went well and what could be improved. Not sure where to start? Here are a few helpful questions to guide your response:
- What worked well or felt especially useful?
- Was anything missing, confusing, or inaccurate?
- How satisfied were you with the result, on a scale of 1–10?
- What changes would you make to finalize the figure?
- Is there anything you wish this tool could do in the future?
Whether it’s a quick comment or detailed suggestions, every bit of input helps us improve the tool and shape its future based on your real-world needs.
Thank you for taking the time to help us build better tools for science communication!
Handling unsupported requests
If your request falls outside the supported figure types, the tool automatically conducts a search based on your description, providing:
- Relevant templates closely matching your request
- A selection of related icons for manual assembly
- Additional search results to help refine your figure
Example:
You request a labelled anatomy diagram of the brain. Since this figure type isn’t fully supported, our AI figure generator will:
- Recognize it as an unsupported request.
- Suggest similar templates.
- Offer related icons to help build the diagram manually.
Even partial solutions - like pre-labelled templates - can be useful starting points.
Data Privacy
Before using the AI Generator, you will see a message outlining how your prompts and figures may be reviewed by the BioRender team to improve the tool. Our goal is to give you a great experience while always protecting the privacy and security of your data. Your data is never used to train our AI models and is not shared externally. Read more about it here.
Troubleshooting
Didn’t get the figure you expected?
If the generated figure doesn’t match your prompt, try the following:
- Use more specific or detailed language in your prompt
- Break complex workflows into smaller steps and generate each part separately
- Check if your request includes any unsupported elements, like anatomy diagrams or highly specialized illustrations
Tip: For best results, use the tool to generate new versions from your prompt on a new blank slide, with nothing selected.
AI option not showing in the editor?
- Make sure you’re using the new BioRender Canvas
- Make sure you’re using the latest version of Google Chrome
- Refresh your browser and clear your cache
- If the issue persists, contact the Support team at support@biorender.com
Does the figure look incomplete or are there missing icons?
- Regenerate the figure using the original or a revised prompt
- Manually search for and insert missing icons from the icon library
- Use grouped elements to reorganize or adjust the layout for clarity
Prompt history not available?
- The prompt composer only retains the most recent prompt during your active session. If you enter a new prompt, the previous one is replaced. Prompt history isn’t saved across sessions—navigating away from your canvas or closing it will clear the composer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I regenerate a figure without starting from scratch?
- Yes. You can edit the original prompt and regenerate the figure as many times as needed. The system will provide updated versions based on your changes.
What kinds of figures are best supported by AI generation?
- Currently, the tool works best for protocols and timelines. Complex diagrams or detailed anatomical visuals are not yet supported.
Can I manually edit AI-generated figures?
- Absolutely. Once the figure is added to your canvas, you can modify it like any other illustration—ungroup, resize, replace icons, or adjust the layout.
Related resources
- How to use the new BioRender canvas
- BioRender Blog: BioRender and AI: Empowering Science Communication with AI
Need help?
- Email: support@biorender.com
- Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.