👻 Meet the ghosts in your workflow ⚡IIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Open your calendar. Draft an email. Edit a photo for social media. Chances are, you’ve just interacted with AI—without even realizing it.

While groundbreaking innovations dominate the headlines, AI has already slipped into the fabric of your daily workflow.

It’s the friendly ghost in the works, streamlining your tasks, suggesting improvements, and making your workday just a little easier—often without you even noticing.

In this issue, we’re pulling back the curtain on AI’s invisible integration into the tools you rely on daily.

From Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace, Slack to Asana, Canva to Adobe—AI assistants are everywhere enabling new skills, smoothing out inefficiencies, boosting creativity, and helping you get more done with less effort.

You might be surprised to learn just how much of your work already runs on AI’s quiet power.

AI MADE EASY

This is a longer video than I usually post, but is a great example of how established platforms - in this case, Canva - are decisively integrating AI. This video outlines their newest AI features:

Source: Al With Samson - a high-value YouTube channel focussed on AI in design and creativity

AI TOOLKIT

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular workspace, collaboration, and design platforms. The AI integrations I’ve highlighted are only a sample. I suggest you pick your favorite platforms and Just Ask AI for a full list of their AI enhancements.

AI-FLUENT

How AI Finds Its Way Into Your Favorite Apps

AI isn’t always flashy or obvious—it’s often working invisibly to improve your favorite apps whether it’s native (built-in), borrowed (API), or added on (plug-ins). Let’s break down the most common ways AI sneaks into your workflow.

1. Native AI: Built Right In

What It Is: AI is baked into the app itself—it’s ready to use the moment you start.
Analogy: "It’s like a car with cruise control already installed—you don’t have to add anything extra to enjoy the feature." e.g:

• Gmail Smart Compose: Predicts your next words as you type.

• Google Photos: Organizes pictures by recognizing faces and objects automatically.

2. API Integration: Borrowed AI Power

What It Is: Apps seamlessly tap into external AI services via APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), gaining access to advanced AI capabilities without the need to build them in-house.
Analogy: "It’s like ordering takeout—someone else does the hard work of cooking, but you still get to enjoy the meal." e.g.

• Zapier Automation: Integrates AI to automate workflows, such as using ChatGPT to draft responses or analyze inputs in tools like Google Sheets.

• E-commerce Chatbots: Online businesses use APIs to integrate AI chatbots for customer support and personalized recommendations.

3. Plug-ins and Extensions: Adding Extras

What It Is: These are add-ons that bring additional AI features to apps you already use.
Analogy: "It’s like adding a GPS app to your phone—your phone works fine, but the GPS makes it smarter and more useful." e.g:

• Grammarly in Google Docs: Provides real-time grammar and writing suggestions.

• Google Workspace Extensions: AI tools that automate tasks like scheduling meetings or summarizing documents.

AI SKILLS SHIFT:

A reminder that upskilling doesn’t have to be disruptive, but it does require you to be purposeful. This Freelancer Skill Augmentation Path can actually be applied to any individual, or even small business.

AI SMORGASBOARD

Memories: Google Gemini can remember things now. The AI chatbot can now personalize its responses based on your interests and preferences.

Observations from Space: An AI-powered assistant to a European Space Agency program offers a rare insight into space travel.

An Avatar Experiment Like No Other: Deus in Machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered Jesus as a social experiment.

FREE RESOURCES

CURIOUS CAT

Meet Jackson Barn Cat a.k.a. JBC, office manager, resident AI-whisperer, and all-around curious cat. Each week he’ll nose bop a new challenge 😺

THE LAST WORD

We work hard to create an interesting and useful mix of content each week. If you know of anyone else who may find it of value, we’d be delighted if you’d share this newsletter with them 🙂 💯 Thanks!

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