Hello,
If you’re in London, I hope you’re surviving this week’s tube strike chaos, endless delays, queues, and detours that make even a short trip feel like an expedition.
Before I dive into AI, I need to pause and say this: Thank you. When you stop me, write to me, or even hand me something just to say this newsletter matters, it hits me harder than you think. It reminds me that this isn’t just text flying into inboxes. It’s a conversation. It’s a connection. And that’s what keeps me showing up here every week.
ConfigurAI was never built to add to the noise. It’s here for the days that feel like a strike: slow, frustrating, out of your control. If one idea in here gives you twenty minutes back, an email you don’t have to write, a meeting that runs smoother, then it’s done its job.
Alright, let’s get into it.
Keep reading for 2 quick news hits, 3 tools worth your time, a Q&A, and a prompt designed to save you hours.
AI Intel: AirPods Become Real-Time Translators
What happened:
Apple announced AirPods Pro 3 with live translation built in. Tap the stem and your earbuds translate conversations in real time. They also add heart-rate tracking and Apple’s strongest noise cancellation yet. The same translation feature is coming to AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC via a firmware update, if paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer running iOS 26. See the translation feature in action here.
Why it matters to work:
Language barriers kill time and confidence. Whether it’s client calls, travel, or global meetings, this makes translation invisible, no juggling apps, no awkward delays. For busy professionals, it’s one of the first AI features that genuinely disappears into your workflow.
What to do by Friday:
Already have AirPods Pro 2 or 4? Update when the firmware drops and pair with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
Test it in real life: Try a conversation with a colleague or friend who speaks another language.
Spot your wins: Where do you currently lose time to translation, emails, calls, and client chats? Plan to hand one of those over to your earbuds.
AI Intel: Claude Now Works With Google Drive, Canva + More
What happened:
Claude AI has added a new Connectors Directory. You’ll see it in the left-hand menu inside Claude (desktop or web app). With one click, you can link Claude to Google Drive, Canva, Slack, Notion, and more. Once connected, you can ask Claude to fetch files, summarise them, or even create designs, without leaving the chat.
Why it matters to work:
Right now, most of us waste time switching tabs, downloading a doc, pasting it into AI, and copying back the summary. Connectors kill that friction. Instead, Claude pulls the file or sends the draft straight into your tool. It’s like having an assistant who already knows where your stuff lives.
What to do by Friday:
Log in to Claude and open the Connectors tab on the sidebar.
Pick one tool you use daily (Google Drive is a good start).
Test it: connect Drive, drop in a PDF, and ask Claude: “Give me the 5 key points in plain English.”
Try Canva next time you need a quick graphic. Just type what you want, and Claude pushes it into Canva.
1. Google Drive Summaries — Highlights without the scrolling
What it does (in simple terms):
Google Drive now gives you a quick summary of PDFs and Google Forms. Instead of reading pages of text, you see the key points at the top when you open the file.
10-minute setup:
Open Google Drive (drive.google.com) in your browser.
Find a PDF you’ve saved there (for example: a client proposal, supplier contract, or a training document).
Double-click to open the PDF inside Drive. If you have the new feature, you’ll see a summary box at the top of the page with the main points already written out.
Try the same with a Google Form that has lots of responses; the summary will highlight the main themes without you reading every single answer.
If you don’t see it yet, don’t worry, it’s being rolled out gradually, so just keep checking back on longer files.
Use it this week:
Open a client proposal, supplier contract, or training manual and check the summary before reading.
Use it on a Google Form with lots of responses to spot themes quickly.
Next time you’re handed a long document, check the summary first and only dive into details if needed.
Time saved:
At least 15–20 minutes per document, plus less mental strain from scrolling.
2. Gemini’s Nano Banana – The Image Creator Everyone’s Talking About
What it does (in simple terms):
Google just dropped Nano Banana into the Gemini app, and it’s everywhere right now. Take a photo of yourself (or upload one), and ask Gemini to change the background, restyle the shot, or even turn you into a cartoon or figurine. The edits look sharp and realistic, not weird or distorted.
10-minute setup:
Open the Gemini app on your phone (download it from the Play Store or App Store if you don’t have it yet).
Tap the image button or upload a selfie.
Type exactly what you want: “make this a professional headshot with a clean background,” or “put me in front of a New York skyline at night.”
Hit Generate and see your new image in seconds.
If you don’t like it, adjust the text and try again; it’s fast to re-spin.
Use it this week:
Create a fresh LinkedIn profile picture in minutes without booking a photographer.
Add a fun twist, like a cartoon version of yourself, for social media posts.
Drop yourself into a professional or creative scene (conference stage, magazine cover, book launch) for a pitch or proposal.
Time saved:
Hours of photo editing or the cost of a professional shoot. You can now test unlimited looks in minutes, straight from your phone.
I tested it myself and was genuinely impressed with the results it came back with.
My prompt: “Create a mini version of my newsletter, ConfigurAI brand, held in 2 hands by a professional. Check it out below:”
3. Perplexity in WhatsApp – Answers Without Leaving the Chat
What it does (in simple terms):
Perplexity, the AI search app, is now available inside WhatsApp. You can ask it questions in a normal chat and get clear, sourced answers back, without opening a browser or juggling apps. It’s like having Google + ChatGPT built into your WhatsApp conversations.
10-minute setup:
Open WhatsApp on your phone.
Save the phone number ‘+1 (833) 436-3285’ to your phone's contacts and name it ‘Perplexity AI’.
Start a chat by sending “Hi” or your first question. #
Ask anything: “Summarise this article,” “Best restaurants near me,” “What’s the deadline for self-assessment tax?”
Perplexity replies in seconds with answers + links to the sources.
Use it this week:
Drop a link in and ask for a summary before a meeting.
Quickly fact-check something without leaving a group chat.
Try something creative: I tested it myself by asking, “Create me an image of an explorer girl in anime style”, and the results were surprisingly good. Check it out below;
Time saved:
At least 10–15 minutes each time, you don’t have to switch apps, copy-paste links, or search manually.
Prompt of the Week (with context)
Use case: Rewrite a contract or legal document into plain English you can actually understand.
Copy/paste:
"You are my plain-language lawyer. Take this legal text and rewrite it in clear, simple English.
No jargon, no legalese.
Explain what each section really means.
Highlight the key obligations, deadlines, and risks.
Keep it short enough to read in 2 minutes.
Here’s the text: [paste contract text]"
Why it works: Most professionals waste hours trying to untangle legal or formal documents. This prompt cuts through the noise and tells you exactly what matters, in language anyone can understand.
Q&A of the Week
Q: “I’ve tried asking AI to plan my day, but it either gives me an overstuffed timetable or something too vague. How do I make it actually useful?”
A: The secret is to stop asking for a “perfect schedule” and instead ask for a plan you’d actually follow on a messy day.
Try this prompt: "You are my personal assistant. I have 6 hours today, but only 4 hours of real focus. Break my day into realistic blocks. Leave space for interruptions, coffee, and emails. Prioritise the 2 most important tasks first. Make it feel doable, not overwhelming."
Why it works: Most AI-generated schedules fail because they’re too idealistic; they assume you’re a robot. Adding words like “realistic,” “interruptions,” and “doable” forces AI to give you something human.
Test it once on your next workday. Instead of a rigid timetable, you’ll get a plan that bends with you, and actually gets done.
Got an AI question on your mind? Hit reply and send it over; your question could be the one I dive into in the very next issue. The more specific, the better.
Thanks for reading,
See you next Wednesday with more ways to cut the busywork and get your time back.
Orgesa Meli
P.S. It would mean a lot if you forward this to someone who’d benefit. I’m building a community of people who want to work smarter with AI, not just a list of names. Subscribe to my community here.
