Research + Full Presentations in 5 Min — Master this new tool in today's AI newsletter
AI is getting faster, cheaper, and more capable every week. Today’s edition covers a breakthrough in document creation, costs dropping 280-fold, and the shift from AI assistants to AI agents that actually do the work for you.
Word of the Day: AGENTIC AI
Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can take autonomous actions and complete multi-step tasks on your behalf, not just answer questions. Unlike a chatbot that responds when you ask, agentic AI can book appointments, browse websites, execute workflows, and make decisions based on your goals.
Why it matters: Agentic AI tools can handle entire business processes, from researching competitors to managing customer inquiries to completing purchases, freeing you to focus on strategy while AI handles execution.
Where can you find Agentic AI in use from today’s newsletter:
AI Browser can log into websites, fill out forms, and complete multi-step processes automatically. Tell it “Check my supplier’s inventory for these 10 products” and it handles everything.
Grok 4.1 can book appointments, analyze data, and complete research tasks that normally require multiple tools.
Perplexity can research a topic and turn that research into a finished presentation without you copying and pasting anything.
Skill of the Day: Turn Research Into Presentations Without Switching Apps
Perplexity just added document creation—you can now research a topic and instantly generate slides, spreadsheets, or documents without leaving the platform. NOTE: You’ll need the PRO version to do this at $20/month.
Here’s how to use it:
Research your topic - Ask Perplexity a question like “What are the top 3 marketing trends for small businesses in 2025?”
Request a presentation - Once you have the research, say “Turn this into a 5-slide presentation for my team.” Be sure to link to your website and upload a logo or style guide, telling Perplexity to keep the presentation branded to your company.
Export and customize - Download the slides and make final adjustments. The slides can be downloaded as PowerPoint or HTML. Once you download a PowerPoint version, you can convert it to a PDF if desired. Here is an example of a presentation I created in five minutes: RANKING IN AI SEARCH
Why this matters: You can now go from question to finished presentation in under 10 minutes—no more copying research into Google Slides or PowerPoint. Perfect for quick client proposals, team updates, or investor decks.
Try it: Go to Perplexity.ai and ask it to research something relevant to your business, then request a presentation.
Tools and Tips
Here are the most useful AI tools for business leaders this week.
#1: AI Browser
AI Browser is an automation tool that can control any website through simple text commands, handling tasks like logging in, clicking buttons, filling forms, and completing multi-step workflows. It works across any website without requiring technical setup or coding knowledge.
Why it matters: Business leaders can automate repetitive online tasks like data entry, order processing, or inventory updates across multiple platforms, freeing up hours each week. This is especially valuable if you manage operations across different vendor portals, marketplaces, or admin dashboards.
#2: Grok 4.1 Fast
Grok 4.1 Fast is xAI’s new AI model that can handle complex workflows like booking appointments, running calculations, and conducting multi-step research. The model is designed for real-world business automation and decision support, and can process extremely large amounts of information at once.
Why it matters: Business leaders can use this to automate complex business processes that previously required multiple tools and human oversight, such as customer service workflows or research-intensive tasks. It can process entire documents, contracts, or datasets in a single conversation, making analysis and decision-making faster.
https://x.ai/news/grok-4-1-fast
#3: Bookmarkjar
Bookmarkjar is an AI-powered bookmark manager that automatically organizes your saved links with smart search, intelligent tagging, and content summaries. It helps you find saved resources quickly without manually organizing folders or remembering exact titles.
Why it matters: Business leaders who save countless articles, competitor sites, vendor resources, and industry news can finally find what they need instantly without digging through disorganized bookmark folders. This saves time and ensures valuable information doesn’t get lost in digital clutter.
#4: Side Space 2.0
Side Space 2.0 is an AI assistant that works alongside your browser tabs, allowing you to research, summarize web pages, and chat with content as you browse. It provides instant insights without interrupting your browsing workflow.
Why it matters: Quickly extract key information from lengthy articles, competitor websites, or industry reports while conducting research, saving hours of reading time. This is particularly useful when evaluating vendors, researching market trends, or analyzing competitor strategies. The “Group Browser Tabs” feature is especially cool.
#5: Comet for Android
Comet is Perplexity’s first mobile AI browser for Android that allows hands-free browsing, automatic summarization, and conversational interaction with web content. It’s designed specifically for on-the-go research and information gathering.
Why it matters: Business leaders can conduct research, gather competitive intelligence, or stay informed about industry trends while commuting or away from their desk. The hands-free capability means you can multitask effectively, making productive use of time that would otherwise be wasted.
https://www.perplexity.ai/comet
#6: Lamatic 3.0
Lamatic is a platform that transforms your business expertise into automated AI applications. It allows non-technical users to create sophisticated AI-powered workflows without writing code, featuring tools for building custom business automation.
Why it matters: Business leaders with specialized industry knowledge can build custom AI tools tailored to their specific processes without hiring developers, automating unique aspects of their business. This democratizes advanced automation, previously only accessible to companies with large tech budgets.
#7: Genspark AI Workspace
Genspark is an AI productivity suite that runs on over 30 different AI models simultaneously, providing an integrated workspace for various AI-powered business tasks and collaboration. The platform recently raised $275 million at a $1.25 billion valuation.
Why it matters: Businesses can access multiple cutting-edge AI capabilities through a single platform rather than managing subscriptions to dozens of different AI tools. This consolidation can reduce costs and complexity while providing best-in-class AI performance across different business functions.
#8: Browser Cash
Browser Cash is a browser automation platform designed for web scraping, automated browsing, and data extraction that can navigate websites and collect information at scale without being blocked by security systems.
Why it matters: Businesses that need competitive pricing data, market research, or lead generation from public websites can automate these tasks without manual effort. This is particularly valuable for e-commerce businesses monitoring competitor prices or agencies gathering prospect information.
In the News
Here are the most important AI updates for small business leaders this week.
#1: AI Business Adoption Jumps to 78% of Organizations
The Stanford AI Index Report reveals that 78% of organizations are now using AI in their operations, up dramatically from 55% the previous year. Meanwhile, U.S. private AI investment reached $109.1 billion in 2024—nearly 12 times China’s $9.3 billion and 24 times the U.K.’s $4.5 billion, with generative AI attracting $33.9 billion globally.
Why it matters: The dramatic surge in adoption means your competitors are likely already using AI to gain efficiency advantages. Small businesses that delay adoption risk falling behind competitors who are cutting costs, speeding up operations, and improving customer service with AI tools. The massive investment flowing into AI also signals that tools will continue getting better and more affordable, making now an ideal time to start experimenting with low-cost options.
https://hai.stanford.edu/ai-index/2025-ai-index-report
#2: AI Costs Drop 280-Fold, Making Advanced Tools Affordable
According to Stanford’s AI Index, the inference cost for AI systems performing at GPT-3.5 level dropped over 280-fold between November 2022 and October 2024. Hardware costs have declined by 30% annually while energy efficiency improved by 40% each year, and open-weight models are closing the performance gap with proprietary models.
Why it matters: Small businesses can now access advanced AI capabilities that would have been prohibitively expensive just two years ago. This dramatic price drop means you can afford to automate more tasks, handle more customer interactions, and analyze more data without breaking your budget. The trend suggests costs will continue falling, making AI tools increasingly accessible for even the smallest operations.
https://hai.stanford.edu/ai-index/2025-ai-index-report
#3: Adobe Acquiring Semrush in $1.9 Billion Deal
Adobe announced plans to acquire Semrush, a leading SEO and digital marketing intelligence platform, for $1.9 billion in cash. The acquisition will integrate Semrush’s search optimization and competitive analysis tools into Adobe’s Experience Cloud, including Adobe Analytics and Adobe Experience Manager.
Why it matters: Small businesses using Adobe’s marketing tools will soon have seamless access to enterprise-grade SEO insights and competitive intelligence without managing multiple subscriptions. This means you’ll be able to create content, optimize it for search, and track competitor strategies all within one ecosystem—simplifying your marketing stack and potentially improving your online visibility with less complexity.
https://news.adobe.com/news/2025/11/adobe-to-acquire-semrush
#4: U.S. Federal AI Regulations Double in One Year
In 2024, U.S. federal agencies introduced 59 AI-related regulations, more than double the 2023 total. Globally, legislative mentions of AI rose 21.3% across 75 countries since 2023, representing a ninefold increase since 2016.
Why it matters: The regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly, and small businesses need to stay aware of new compliance requirements affecting customer data handling, hiring practices, and AI tool usage. Getting ahead of these regulations now protects your business from potential fines and helps maintain customer trust as AI transparency becomes a legal requirement.
https://hai.stanford.edu/ai-index/2025-ai-index-report
#5: OpenAI Adds Inline Images to ChatGPT Responses
OpenAI is now displaying inline images of people, places, and products directly within ChatGPT answers on web, iOS, and Android for GPT-5.1 responses. The feature provides richer visual context without requiring users to conduct separate image searches.
Why it matters: Small business owners conducting research, planning marketing campaigns, or exploring product ideas can now get visual context immediately without switching between tools. This speeds up decision-making processes like choosing vendors, understanding competitor products, or visualizing concepts for your team—saving time and reducing friction in daily workflows.
https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6825453-chatgpt-release-notes
#6: Genspark Raises $275M for AI Workspace at $1.25B Valuation
Genspark, the AI productivity platform we discussed earlier that runs on over 30 different AI models simultaneously just raised $275 million at a $1.25 billion valuation. The round included investors like Emergence Capital, SBI Investment, LG Electronics, Pavilion Capital, and Uphonest Capital.
Why it matters: The emergence of unified AI workspaces signals a shift away from managing multiple AI subscriptions. For small businesses, platforms like Genspark that aggregate multiple AI models could simplify workflows and reduce costs by providing access to various AI capabilities through a single interface—eliminating the complexity of choosing between different AI tools for different tasks.
https://siliconangle.com/2025/11/20/genspark-raises-275m-funding-ai-productivity-suite/
#7: Controversy Over Gmail and AI Training Data
Viral social media posts claimed Google was quietly using Gmail content to train its Gemini AI without user consent. Google responded that no settings have changed and that existing privacy controls remain in place, though the incident highlighted confusion around “Smart Features” toggles that control how Google processes email data.
Why it matters: Small business owners need to understand how their business communications may be used by AI service providers and ensure they’ve configured privacy settings appropriately. If you handle sensitive client information through Gmail or other cloud services, review your privacy settings now to maintain client trust and comply with any confidentiality agreements.
https://www.theverge.com/news/826902/gmail-ai-training-data-opt-out
#8: White House Pauses Executive Order on AI State Laws
The White House quietly paused a draft executive order that would have preempted state AI regulations, following pushback from both political parties. The pause affects how federal policy will interact with state-level rules on AI fraud prevention, hiring practices, and technology deployment.
Why it matters: State-by-state AI regulations will continue developing independently, meaning small businesses operating across multiple states may face different compliance requirements in different locations. This creates complexity but also allows states to experiment with regulations that might be more practical for small businesses than one-size-fits-all federal mandates.
#9: ChatGPT Faces Seven New Lawsuits Citing Mental Health Harm
Seven new lawsuits allege that ChatGPT acted as a manipulative “AI friend” that isolated vulnerable users and contributed to severe mental health outcomes. OpenAI pointed to recently implemented safety measures while maintaining that their tools are designed responsibly.
Why it matters: Small businesses deploying customer-facing AI chatbots should be mindful of how their automated systems interact with vulnerable customers. The lawsuits highlight the importance of building guardrails into AI customer service tools and ensuring human oversight for sensitive interactions, protecting both customers and your business from liability.
#10: Gemini 3.0 Pro Outperforms Radiology Trainees on Medical Exam
For the first time, a general AI model scored higher than radiology trainees on RadLE v1, a challenging 50-case medical imaging exam. Gemini 3.0 Pro achieved 51-57% accuracy compared to radiologists at 83% and trainees at 45%, while GPT-5 scored only 30%.
Why it matters: While not directly applicable to most small businesses, this breakthrough signals that AI is rapidly improving at specialized knowledge tasks that previously required years of training. Small businesses in healthcare, consulting, or professional services should watch these developments as AI begins handling increasingly complex analytical work that could augment or replace certain specialized functions.
https://drdattaaiims.github.io/Gemini-3.0-Radiology-2025.html
#11: GPT-5 Begins Accelerating Real Scientific Research
OpenAI published research showing GPT-5 helping scientists across biology, mathematics, and optimization achieve breakthroughs, including solving a decades-old mathematical problem and identifying immune cell mechanisms in minutes that took researchers months to understand.
Why it matters: While focused on academic research, this capability demonstrates that AI can now meaningfully accelerate complex problem-solving beyond simple automation. Small businesses facing difficult analytical challenges including market analysis, process optimization, or technical troubleshooting, may soon be able to leverage similar AI reasoning capabilities to find solutions faster than traditional methods.
https://openai.com/index/accelerating-science-gpt-5/
Final Thought
The gap between businesses that use AI and those that don’t is widening every week. Take one hour this week to test just one tool from today’s list, remembering that small experiments compound into massive competitive advantages.
Stay curious, keep testing, and watch your business grow.
— Scott