Unlock 100x Productivity with These AI Tools: Perplexity Spaces, Grok 3 ARA, Gamma, Jurny, Wan2.1, and Manus AI

Welcome to the long-awaited issue tackling the top question from our 15,000 subscribers: What AI tools can truly 100x productivity—or just be a ton of fun? Here’s the scoop!

We’re excited to share our favorite AI tools every month or two as tech evolves at lightning speed. This month, we spotlight gems like Perplexity Spaces (you probably use Perplexity, but Spaces is a hidden powerhouse) and Elon’s Grok 3 ARA (real-time voice chats that feel human). Don’t sleep on Alibaba’s Wan2.1, a free AI video generator, or Manus AI, China’s open-source agent with a massive waitlist—trial sign-ins are reportedly selling for $20,000! We got early access and are blown away by its capabilities.

Tools We Love at WorkOptional

Perplexity Spaces

What it is: An AI-powered collaboration hub with millions of users and significant growth.

Why it’s great: Unlike CustomGPT, Spaces supports private file uploads and project memory. We create Spaces for each company or project, boosting productivity by retaining key details across sessions. Perfect for long-term projects needing consistent knowledge retrieval and team alignment.

Our team now uses Perplexity way more than Google Search and even more than ChatGPT. If you are an accredited investor and are interested to co-invest in Perplexity and other revolutionary AI firms please message us and fill out the form at WorkOptional.ai

Grok 3 ARA Voice Agent

What it is: Elon Musk’s real-time conversational assistant with customizable voice modes.

Why it’s great: Switch between humor and professionalism effortlessly—great for brainstorming or problem-solving. It’s not woke and super fun; try R-rated “Unhinged” or X-rated “Sexy” voices, or customize your own (e.g., “Storyteller” for bedtime stories or “Not A Doctor” for mock advice). We love its playful edge!

Gamma.app

What it is: An AI tool for crafting presentations, websites, and pitch decks in seconds.

Why it’s great: We’ve built business plans and pitch sites—like NestBrander.AI and NeuralNest.Live—for free in moments (vs. days and thousands of dollars). It turns complex data into stunning visuals, ideal for startups or investor pitches.

Jurny

What it is: A property management platform automating most tasks for short-term rentals and hotels.

Why it’s great: With dynamic pricing, guest comms, and IoT integrations, Jurny cuts costs and boosts guest experiences. Its analytics dashboard offers real-time insights on occupancy and revenue—perfect for property managers. Catch more at our upcoming meetup!

Wan2.1 by Alibaba

What it is: An open-source text-to-video generator turning prompts into high-quality videos fast.

Why it’s great: Free, multilingual (Chinese/English), and professional-grade, we’ve made sample videos in five seconds each. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to pricier tools, accessible to all. Here are 2 short text-2-videos Wan2.1 made for us that took only 5 seconds of time to prompt it. AI is not perfect so one of the two needs further prompting, can you tell which one?

Manus AI

What it is: A next-gen autonomous AI agent for report writing, software dev, and workflow automation.

Why it’s great: Open-source and cheaper than GPT’s Operator, Manus is a game-changer. YC companies use agents like it to cut dev teams from ten to one! Our CPOs and CTOs are testing it for bulk coding and even this newsletter—it made a 75-second demo video in two hours. A peek at a near work-optional future!

Top 5 Global AI Stories

1. DeepSeek Narrows China-US AI Gap with V3 Model Upgrade (March 25, 2025)

   • DeepSeek’s V3-0324 boosts reasoning and coding while cutting costs, heating up global AI competition.

   • Implications: Faster workplace automation and better customer experience solutions worldwide.

2. NVIDIA Unveils Isaac GROOT N1 for Humanoid Robotics (March 20, 2025)

   • A model for robots to handle complex tasks like material handling and inspection.

   • Implications: Could ease labor shortages in manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

3. China’s AI Advancements Reshape Job Market (March 26, 2025)

   • Automation sparks layoffs; younger workers struggle to adapt.

   • Implications: Global push for reskilling to meet new industry demands.

4. Study Reveals Limitations of AI Digital Therapists (March 17, 2025)

   • AI struggles with emotional stress, impacting mental health tools.

   • Implications: Highlights gaps in AI’s human-like empathy.

5. Goldman Sachs Warns of AI’s Impact on Global Employment (March 24, 2025)

   • Predicts up to 300 million jobs displaced by automation.

   • Implications: Calls for urgent reskilling investments by governments and firms.

Upcoming WorkOptional.ai Events

• Can AI Autonomously Run Your Short-Term Rentals?
   Thursday, March 27, 2025 | Online | 9:00 PM EDT | Register here!

• Bangkok AI Dreamers & Doers Meetup
   Wednesday, April 2, 2025 | Bangkok | 7:00 AM EDT | Register here!

• Automated Content Creation & Social Media Management
  Wednesday, April 9, 2025| Online |Time: 9:00 PM EDT | Register here!

• Seek Co-Author/Researcher for Book: AI Impact on Real Estate
  Saturday, April 15th, 2025 | Bankok |Time: 8:00 AM EDT | Register here!

• How AI Will Finally Make Homes Smart
   Thursday, April 17, 2025 | Bangkok | Time: 9:00 PM EDT | Register here!

• Startup Club: Real Estate and PropTech Pitch Night
  Sunday, April 23rd, 2025 | Online | Time: 1:00 PM EDT | Register here!

Join us to dive into AI-driven work solutions and network with industry leaders!

The WorkOptional.ai Team