Here’s what actually matters right now:

While most of the internet is selling recycled advice and low-effort courses, we’re focused on what’s actually working; real tools, real workflows, and real income opportunities across automation, skill-building, and scalable business models.

🔁 TLDR – This Week in AI + Automation

• ⚡ Turn text into videos for free with WAN 2.2 — no animation skills or subscriptions needed

• 🎭 Create brand-consistent characters from one image using Ideogram Character — totally free

• 🚀 Automation = 240% ROI in under 9 months — with 25–30% productivity boosts and massive error reduction

• 🧰 Top tools featured: n8n, Pipedream, Make.com, Replicate, OpenRouter, Apify

• TAKE ACTION: Reply “AUTOMATION” to get help setting up your first automation and stop leaving money on the table

Scroll down for the full breakdown.

🗓️ New AI Tools - Quick Read

WAN 2.2: The Open-Source (FREE) Video AI That's Changing Content Creation

This one’s a game-changer.

WAN 2.2 lets you turn simple text prompts into full HD video; no animation skills, no subscriptions, no watermarks. Just type what you want to see, and in under 10 minutes, you’ve got a scroll-stopping clip ready to post.

• Instant video from text — generate 5-second, 720p clips perfect for Instagram, TikTok, or short-form ads.

• Totally free and open-source — no license limits, no monthly fees, no gatekeeping.

• Actually outperforms paid tools — cleaner results than a lot of the commercial platforms out there, and you get full control over the final look.

• Runs locally — no need for expensive cloud credits. If you’ve got a solid GPU (like a 4090), you’re good to go.

Learn More Here

Ideogram Character: Build Brand Consistency with One Photo for FREE

If you’ve ever wanted a consistent brand mascot or visual character for your content — this tool is seriously impressive.

Ideogram Character takes a single photo and lets you create unlimited variations: different scenes, poses, lighting, emotions — all while keeping your character’s unique look locked in.

• One photo = endless visuals — generate character images in any setting or mood from a single reference image.

• Ideal for branding and storytelling — whether it’s a mascot, avatar, or fictional character, you can build a recognizable visual identity across all your projects.

• No messy character sheets — it auto-detects face and hair, and you can tweak clothing, accessories, and more with simple mask edits.

• Works with other creative tools — pairs perfectly with Ideogram’s Magic Fill and Remix for fine-tuning or expanding your visuals.

If you’re trying to build a brand with visual consistency, this might be one of the easiest ways to get started.

Learn More Here

Why Automation Is Your Business's Most Critical Investment in 2025

TLDR: Businesses implementing automation are seeing 240% ROI within 6-9 months while gaining 25-30% productivity increases and 40-75% error reduction

The Modern Automation Arsenal

Today's automation landscape offers unprecedented power through platforms designed for different business needs:

n8n delivers open-source flexibility with custom code execution capabilities that surpass Make and Zapier in JavaScript functionality while supporting Python execution. For businesses requiring complete customization without vendor lock-in, n8n provides enterprise-grade automation at startup costs. Learn more here

Pipedream bridges the gap between no-code and pro-code automation with its serverless execution environment, perfect for teams with technical capabilities who need rapid deployment without infrastructure overhead. Learn more here

Make.com offers superior features for complex workflows with advanced logic, ideal for businesses managing intricate multi-step processes that require sophisticated decision trees. Learn more here

Replicate democratizes AI model deployment, allowing businesses to integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities without machine learning expertise or massive computing infrastructure. Learn more here

OpenRouter provides cost-effective access to multiple AI models through a single API, eliminating the need for separate vendor relationships while optimizing AI costs through intelligent routing. Learn more here

Apify specializes in web scraping and data extraction automation, turning competitor analysis and market research into automated competitive advantages. Learn more here

The Hidden Cost of Inaction

While competitors automate, manual processes become exponentially more expensive. 72% of businesses have adopted AI to automate at least one process for increased efficiency and reduced manual tasks.

Employee satisfaction improvements of 15-35% when automation eliminates repetitive tasks translate directly to reduced turnover costs and increased productivity from engaged teams.

The 2025 Automation Advantage

Gartner predicts hyperautomation will impact one-fifth of all business processes by 2025, creating self-operating systems that require minimal human intervention.

The window for competitive automation advantage is closing rapidly. Those who excel in AI and automation are creating brilliant cultures for staff and amazing experiences for customers, giving them operational and data efficiency competitive advantages.

Your Automation ROI Starts Today

Every day without automation is money left on the table. The tools exist, the ROI is proven, and your competitors are already moving.

Reply to this E-mail with “AUTOMATION” and I can help get you started.

Some Info For Y’all

As I ramp up and expand my AI + Automation & Media company, I haven’t been putting out as much YouTube content. I’m still committed to YouTube, but I want to create things that result in direct value for both you and my clients. This is what that looks like:

• I am building an immense amount of knowledge on numerous automation tools & platforms, CRM services, the client acquisition process, and running an AI + Automation business in general.

• I have now built a lot more automations that are both creator and business focused. These are more advanced automations with many APIs & integrations that could literally replace an employee or pick up as much work as an employee.

• I have been using AI like crazy, all different tools, integrations, LLMs… I understand it at a fundamental level even deeper than I did.

I urge you to reach out to me if there is anything I can help you with. I do this to give you my knowledge, so let me know if you have any questions.

Until next week,

Steven

Stay efficient, stay automated

That's all for this week! If you found this valuable, please share it with fellow creators who might benefit from these automation strategies.

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