Slides made stupidly simple

Feeling lost in the endless stream of AI tools? You’re not alone—and we’re here to guide freelancers, solopreneurs, and small teams. Think of us as the wise companion who cuts through the clutter to find apps and agents that truly save time, simplify workflows, and give your business an edge.

This week’s focus: Productivity hacks ✨for 2025. We’ve handpicked tools, tips, and a little humor to help lighten your load. (3-minute read, delivered weekly to your inbox)

Week’s highlights

• 🎯Gamma AI: Automate stunning presentations with ease.

• Grammarly: Polish your writing and tone like a pro with new AI features.

• Sherpa shortcuts: Simplify your workspace with two great Slack hacks.

• The Ridgeline: AI news for freelancers and small teams.

• 😝Tools gone wild: When AI gets moody, even Bob Ross isn’t safe.

AI tool spotlight:

Tool Sherpa explores the flood of new AI apps and carefully selects only proven tools.

Gamma AI: Design decks without the drama

Why it matters: Like the Tool Sherpa, it’s safe to say you probably hate "quick deck" requests that hijack your afternoon. Gamma AI can help rescue your sanity. Drop in your bullet points, and voilà—sleek, professionally designed slides in minutes. No design skills required. Just add your text (or let the app itself write your notes).

Beyond the professional results, users also report reducing manual slide deck prep time by about 90 percent.

Who should use this: Entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone allergic to slide formatting and font tweaks.

Pro: Saves time with polished, brand-ready slides, web pages, and presentations.

Con: AI visuals may need minor tweaks. Advanced customization options are limited. Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans $8 - $15/month.

👉 Try Gamma AI

Grammerly: Make your words shine 🙌 

Why it matters: Whether it's catching typos or toning down those unintentionally sassy emails, Grammarly's got your back. Its tone detector and style suggestions ensure your words land just right—even on your fifth coffee. Likewise, typical users report saving 38 minutes per day on emails and other writing tasks.

Also, on average:

• Blog writers save about 30 minutes per post

• Document review times are cut by 15 minutes

Who should use this: Anyone who wants their writing to sound clear, confident, and just the right amount of refined—whether it’s an email, a pitch, or presentation.

Pro: Polished, professional communication.

Con: Flags creative phrasing unnecessarily at times.

Pricing: Free plan available; Premium $12/month (billed annually).

👉 Check out Grammarly

Sherpa’s shortcuts 🚀

Sherpa-approved hacks to save time and streamline your workflow in today’s most popular apps.

Zapier: Automate Slack tasks like a pro

Problem: Action items in Slack (team messaging app) often get buried under endless messages.

Solution: Turn those starred messages into actionable tasks with Zapier (workflow automation):

1. Set up a Zap: “When I star a Slack message, create a new task in Trello (project manager).”

2. Customize fields like deadlines and assignees.

3. Watch as your starred messages magically transform into Trello tasks! 💥

“Slash command” shortcuts: Save time navigating Slack with built-in shortcuts:

• Type /remind to create reminders directly in a channel. Example: /remind me to follow up with Anna tomorrow at 10am.

• Use /collapse to minimize all images and GIFs in a busy channel.🎯

👉 Try Slack

👉 Explore Trello

👉Checkout Zapier

The Ridgeline 🏔️

News on how AI is rewriting the rules for solopreneurs and small teams. Let’s chart the trail:

• 🤖Freelancers cash in with AI: Turns out robots are taking over—your invoicing, that is. A new survey says freelancers using tools like ChatGPT are earning 20% more while working smarter, not harder. Read more

• AI trends to stalk in 2025: Predictive analytics, smarter automations, and ethical debates—oh my! The AI forecast for 2025 is hotter than your morning coffee. Check it out

• 2025 is your year, small biz heroes: AI tools like MidJourney are making creativity and efficiency affordable, while automation tech takes the grunt work off your plate. Be inspired

• Drag, drop, dominate: AI website builders: Forget the coding nightmares—AI-powered website builders are making small business dreams come true with click-and-go simplicity. See what’s new

• 📈Taxes, but make it Turbo: TurboTax’s new AI-powered app is bringing the heat—simple filing, $0 promos, and zero math anxiety. You’re welcome. Check it out

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Tools gone wild! 😜

Let’s end with a laugh — when AI tools take a detour off the happy path.

Bob Ross meets the apocalypse

What happens when an AI trained on famed painting instructor Bob Ross’s calming landscapes has a bad day? Instead of tranquil trees, users were treated to post-apocalyptic wastelands, radioactive skies and demonic forests. The irony? Ross’s mantra was “no mistakes, just happy accidents.”

This AI clearly had a different take on “happy.” 🤖

What’s next? 🧭

Over the coming weeks, your Sherpa Team will bring tools to help with marketing, getting more done, and even making tax time less stressful. From clever hacks to standout apps, we’re here to lighten your load and make your climb smoother every step of the way! Subscribe now!

— Tool Sherpa AI