A weekly newsletter dedicated to keeping you informed with actionable strategies to leverage AI in your small business, without the overwhelm!
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Claude 4.5 Just Changed Everything
Published 2 months ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader,
Right now the snow is coming down in Cleveland, all my kids are home, the fire is roaring in the fireplace, and all is just right in my world right now.
(Eddie is here but somehow got left out of the shot!)
I bought Yahtzee, a game none of us have ever played, imagining all of us gathered around the kitchen table like in the commercial…”Yahtzee!” we’d yell.
But the instructions look complicated.
And everyone is still in their turkey coma and no one wants to figure it out.
I think it's one of those games someone else has to teach you.
Obviously, I’ll turn to AI a little later today.
In fact, as I am writing this, the solution just popped into my head….
I’m going to give NotebookLM the instructions and ask it to explain the game to me like I’m five years old, with an explainer video!
(I’ll let you know next week how it turns out).
So speaking of AI… this week’s AI updates were juicy.
Claude Opus 4.5 is officially here, and it’s the most capable version yet. With deeper integration into Chrome and Excel, Claude is no longer just a smart chatbot, it’s becoming a true behind-the-scenes work partner. No more caps (I’ll believe this when I see it. Haven’t tested it yet), better slide and spreadsheet reasoning, long-chat autosummarizing… it’s a huge leap forward.
Also rolling out: ChatGPT Voice now works directly in the main chat window, Gemini added interactive visuals you can explore by touch, and Perplexity, Google, and Manus all dropped in-browser assistants that save you clicks, time, and mental load.
And heads up — our curated list of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals is now live. But instead of chasing every shiny offer, we’re focusing on the AI tools we actually use to run our business smarter, faster, and more creatively. I’ll be updating it through December 1, so bookmark the list and check back often.
Anthropic just released Opus 4.5, its strongest model yet and this update is a big step toward making Claude feel like a true day-to-day work partner. The new version delivers smarter output across coding, deep research, slide generation, and spreadsheet reasoning, and it finally removes the daily workflow caps that so many of us kept bumping into.💃🏻 Long chats also auto-summarize so you can keep going without hitting reset.
But the biggest shift is integration.
Chrome Extension: You can now use Claude directly in your browser to summarize pages, rewrite content, draft ideas, and work inline without switching windows.
Excel Add-in (beta): Claude can analyze spreadsheets, clean messy data, write formulas, explain patterns, and help you understand what’s happening inside your sheet. Available for Max, Team, and Enterprise.
Together, these updates move Claude from being a separate tab you open… to an assistant that lives inside the tools you already rely on.
No more switching interfaces. You can now start talking to ChatGPT anytime from the main chat window. Voice conversations feel smoother and more natural without extra steps..
Workspace apps — Slides, Videos, NotebookLM — can now generate images instantly using Nano Banana Pro. Slides also gets a new “Beautify this slide” button that automates layout, spacing, colors, and visuals in one tap. Last week just minutes before our AI Club Strategy Club, I asked NotebookLM to create a slide deck and I was simply BLOWN AWAY by the output. Give it a try!
You can now long-press any image in Google Messages and tap Remix to restyle it instantly. Transform rooms, redesign objects, tweak styles, or turn pets into action figures — all powered by the Nano Banana model.
You can now share your custom Gemini assistants using a link. Choose whether others can use your Gem or edit it. Perfect for sharing workflows, templates, or assistants with clients or team members. (Gems are just like CustomGPTs)
The AI Inbox helps draft replies, find emails, and analyze messages. Scheduled Agents let you automate recurring tasks — completely hands-free. (If you are unfamiliar with Genspark, it’s another LLM, like ChatGPT or Claude, but very agentic. The free version is more than enough to get an idea of how powerful it is!)
Manus now helps you directly in your browser — no switching tabs. Summaries, drafting, and content help appear wherever you're working. Rolling out in beta to Pro, Plus, and Team users. (Like all of these agentic browsers, use with caution. Don’t open tabs that reveal sensitive information e.g. your bank accounts).
↩️ Don’t miss out: Did you miss our last newsletter? We featured Google’s official launch of Gemini 3, a major upgrade in reasoning, performance, multimodal understanding, long-form content, research, and code. Google says it’s more reliable, more transparent, and on its way to Search, Android, Workspace, and developer tools. Check it here!
The Best Black Friday & Cyber Monday AI Deals of 2025
Every year, we hunt for the juiciest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but this year we're focused specifically on AI tools. Tools we actually use day in and day out to run our business smarter, faster, and more creatively. For workflows for content creation, automation, research, marketing, client communication, and beyond.
I’ll be updating this list all the way through Cyber Monday (December 1), so make sure to bookmark this post and check back regularly.
Many of these links are affiliate links, which means that I will receive some sort of a small reward for telling you about the product. But as always, I don’t recommend anything I don’t love, or use myself.
I want you to act as my Black Friday Shopping Assistant. Your goal is to help me find the best possible deals that match my interests, budget, and shopping style. Please analyze the items, categories, and brands I care about, and return a clear list of the top deals available right now, along with recommendations, price comparisons, and buying guidance.
### **My Details**
1. **My Shopping Interests:**
*(List all items, categories, or brands you want deals on.)*
**Interests:** ________________________________
2. **My Target Budget for Each Item or Category:**
*(Add a range or maximum price.)*
**Budget:** ________________________________
3. **My Preferred Stores or Marketplaces:**
*(Example: Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Costco, Sephora, etc.)*
**Stores:** ________________________________
4. **My Shopping Priorities:**
*(Select or list yours.)*
* Lowest price
* Fastest shipping
* Best long-term value
* Highest quality
* Bundles and bonus items
* Brand loyalty
**Priorities:** ________________________________
5. **My Timing Preferences:**
*(Example: early Black Friday, Cyber Monday, need deals live now, etc.)*
**Timing:** ________________________________
6. **Countries where I can receive shipping:**
**Shipping Location:** ________________________________
---
## **What I Want You to Return**
1. A list of the best current deals that match my interests and budget.
2. Price comparisons across different stores.
3. Historical price insights to confirm whether it's truly a good deal.
4. Your recommendation: buy now or wait for later in the sale cycle.
5. Any bundles, add-ons, warranties, or upgrades available.
6. A rating (1–10) for how strong each deal is based on value and match.
7. Direct shopping links when possible.
---
## **Extra Instructions for You (the AI)**
* Format all results in a clean, easy-to-scan table.
* Be specific about price differences.
* Highlight hidden savings, coupon codes, or stackable offers.
* Suggest alternatives if a deal cannot be found.
* Notify me if better deals are expected later.
* Only show high-quality or well-reviewed items unless noted.
* Keep all results current to the moment the response is generated.
---
JOIN THE COMMUNITY 🤝
Save 5+ Hours This Week with the Front Row AI Club
If you're feeling buried under a mountain of AI tools and strategies—and constantly wondering how to keep up—you’re not alone.
That’s exactly why we created the Front Row AI Club.
It’s your fast track to working smarter, not harder—designed specifically for online entrepreneurs who want to use AI to grow faster, streamline tasks, and reclaim their time.
In just 7 days, most members:
Cut 5+ hours from their weekly workload
Save $500–$1,000/month by automating repetitive tasks
Replace overwhelm with confidence using AI
As a member, you’ll get:
Plug-and-play AI automations built for real business needs
Live workshops and Q&As with step-by-step guidance
The newest strategies (always tested before we recommend them)
An uplifting community of like-minded entrepreneurs
Instant access to our entire library of prompts
While others are stuck trying to figure it all out on their own, Front Row AI Club members are already using AI to do less and earn more.
P.S. You don’t need to be a tech wizard. If you’re running an online business, you’re already qualified to use AI to save time and money—starting today.
Plug Into the LinkedIn Content System That Attracts Clients... Without the Guesswork, Without the Overwhelm
I’m sharing Nancy & Scott Aaron’s Expert Content Society™ because what I’ve learned from him finally helped me gain real traction on LinkedIn after 14 years of spinning my wheels. It’s a monthly membership packed with AI-powered prompts, templates, and live workshops—all designed to help coaches and service pros attract real clients without the burnout.
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Whenever you’re ready, here are 5 ways I can help you:
1️⃣ Join the Front Row AI Club. I'll show you exactly how to turn AI into an indispensable part of your business without the head-banging learning curve.
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