Overview of BioRender’s AI tools

BioRender's AI tools help you get from a blank canvas to a finished scientific figure faster. You can build a figure step by step with Leo, draft figures from a text prompt, make your own icons or edit uploaded images.

This article gives a tour of our main AI tools, when to use them, and where to find them.

AI tools at a glance

Which should I choose: Leo or Generate Editable Figure?

Do you already know what the figure should look like?

• Yes → Generate Editable Figure. You describe the figure and it builds three layout options for you to choose from. Clear prompts get you a fast first draft.
• No → Leo. Leo asks the questions a figure expert would ask, then builds only after you approve the plan. It takes longer to get to the first draft, but helps you build complex figures.

Create figures with AI

Build a figure with Leo by BioRender

Leo is our AI assistant for building a figure through chat. Start with a short description, even without a finished idea. Leo asks follow-up questions to help you shape the figure. This takes a little longer to reach the first draft, but gives you a stronger result on complex figures.

Best to use it when:

• You don't have a finished idea yet or you're not sure where to begin. A guided prompt walks you through it.
• You're working on a figure that would usually take you days.
• You want to build a figure from a paper, deck or image.

How it works: Describe your figure → answer Leo's questions → pick a sketch → review the color draft → add it to your canvas. 

Keep in mind: Leo counts toward your AI usage.

Find it: Canvas → Leo (left toolbar)

To learn more, check out Designing with Leo, BioRender's AI Agent

Generate Editable Figure

Use Generate Editable Figure when the plan is already in your head and you want to turn a simple text prompt into a quick visual draft.

Best to use it when:

• You already know what the figure should look like.
• You want to get to a first draft faster from a text prompt.
• You have text to work from, like a paper abstract or SOP (standard operating procedure).
• You're recreating a figure, or you have a reference image or sketch to guide the layout.

Keep in mind: Generate Editable Figure counts toward your AI usage.

Find it: Canvas → AI Tools (left toolbar)

To learn more, check out How to generate editable figures using BioRender AI

Generate Protocol, Timeline or Flowchart

Use these tools to turn a short text description into an editable draft. Choose the one that matches your figure:

• Protocol: a step-by-step visual of an experiment
• Timeline: events, milestones or study phases along a time axis
• Flowchart: processes and decision points, made with boxes, arrows and labels

Best to use it when:

• Protocol: You want to turn a written protocol into a clear visual guide.
• Timeline: You're mapping a study design, an experimental schedule, research phases or a project plan.
• Flowchart: You're showing a scientific workflow, a troubleshooting path, analytical logic, an SOP or high-level project steps.

Every draft is fully editable.

Keep in mind: Protocol, Timeline and Flowchart count toward your AI usage.

Find it: Canvas → AI Tools (left toolbar)

To learn more, check out How to draft protocols, timelines and flowcharts with BioRender AI

Make your own icon

Modify your uploaded images and BioRender icons with five AI customization options.

Customization tools:

• Apply BioRender Style: makes an uploaded image match BioRender's look
• Restyle Icon: changes the style to Textbook, Watercolor, 3D, Line Art, Silhouette and more
• Remove Background: keeps only the main subject
• Remove Text: removes labels and annotations
• Custom Edit: makes a specific change from a short prompt

Best to use it when:

• The BioRender library doesn't have the exact icon you need.
• You need a variation of an icon, like a different view, an open vs. closed state, other colors, or details added or removed.
• You want an uploaded image, like a paper figure or lab photo, to match BioRender's style so your figure looks consistent.
• You're editing a single icon or image, not a whole figure.

Keep in mind: Make your own icon tools count toward your AI usage.

Find it: Select an icon → AI Tools (top or left toolbar)

To learn more, check out How to make your own icon with AI

Additional AI tools

Find icons with Smart Search

Best to use it when:

• You want to describe your concept in your own words instead of running several keyword searches.
• You need icons for every part of an idea, grouped by topic.

Keep in mind: Smart Search does not count toward your AI usage.

Find it: Search bar at the top of the homepage or canvas

To learn more, check out How to use AI powered Smart Search

Name and describe figures with Narrate AI

Best to use it when:

• Your figure is untitled and you want a suggested title.
• You're submitting a template to the Community gallery and need a title and description.
• You want your figures to be easier to organize and find.

Keep in mind: Narrate AI does not count toward your AI usage.

Find it: The Generate Title with AI prompt on untitled figures, or Share → Submit to Community

To learn more, check out Narrate AI: AI-generated titles and descriptions

Use BioRender in your AI assistant (MCP connector)

An MCP connector is a link between BioRender and your AI assistant. It lets the assistant find and build BioRender figures for you.

Best to use it when:

• You want to search BioRender templates from inside Claude or ChatGPT.
• You want to find and reference figures you've already made.
• You want to generate a first-draft figure in a chat, then open it in BioRender to keep editing.

Keep in mind: Creating a figure with the MCP connector counts toward your AI usage.

Find it: Claude: Settings → Connectors. ChatGPT: the Plugins directory.

To learn more, check out How to use the BioRender MCP connector

AI tools and access

AI figure generation and AI image editing tools count toward your AI usage.

For more information on our AI tool purchase options, see the following:

• How to access and manage the AI Add-On
• How to manage and monitor your organization's AI usage (admins)

Tips for best results:

• Start simple. Describe the main idea and add detail as you go.
• Be specific about the process, the key elements, and how they connect.
• Keep "Generate a figure" prompts under 1,000 words.
• Always check AI results for scientific accuracy.

AI tools not showing?

• Use the new BioRender Canvas and the latest version of Chrome.
• Turn off ad blockers for app.biorender.com, then refresh the page.
• If you're part of an organization, ask your admin whether AI tools are turned on for you.

Data privacy

• The BioRender team may review your prompts and figures to improve our tools.
• Your data is never used to train our AI models and is never shared outside BioRender. (Read our AI blog).
• If you use the MCP connector, the content you search for and create is shared with the AI assistant you connect.
• All AI use follows our Acceptable Use Policy.