Build impactful decks with Gamma's Smart Diagrams

Gamma just launched ​Smart Diagrams​ (Beta), a major update that lets you visualize your text with over 12 AI-powered diagram types, from Venns and Chains to Icebergs and Solar Systems.

What makes them “smart” is that when you add one, the diagram prefills with content based on your current topic, so you’re not starting from an empty shape. This makes it much faster to translate ideas into visuals that fit your narrative. Paired with Gamma’s Smart Layouts, you can move from plain text to polished, content-rich visuals in seconds.

So how can you put this into action?

Let’s try it on a real use case: building a Go-to-Market Strategy presentation.

Turning dense slides into clear visuals can enhance your business decks, highlight what matters, and communicate your strategy more effectively.

• Step 1: Open Gamma, choose Generate with AI, select Presentation, then paste the following prompt:
  • Create a Go-to-Market Strategy deck for launching an AI productivity app to U.S. small businesses (1–200 employees). Include: problem & opportunity, ICPs/segments, value prop & positioning, competitive landscape, pricing, marketing channels, sales motion, partnerships, onboarding, adoption funnel, KPIs, and a 90-day plan. Use clear slide titles and 3–5 concise bullets per slide, with 1 bold takeaway (“So what?”) per slide.
• Step 2: Edit the outline and set the stage. Gamma shows an Outline. Clean it before generating all the cards.
  • What to customize: Section titles, order, gaps.
  • Pick a theme (e.g., Velvet Tides for a dark exec look, Borealis for modern high-contrast).
  • Customize writing settings: Target audience and tone.
• Step 3: Transform dense slides into visuals with Smart Diagrams. Scan the deck. Where text feels packed or abstract, insert a diagram. Gamma’s Smart Diagrams will prefill with content aligned to that slide’s topic, no blank canvases.
  • A Bullseye or Packed Circles for segments, Venn or Puzzle for value props, Ribbon Arrows or Chain for the adoption funnel, Quadrant or Versus for competition, and Slope, Road, or Arrows for the 90-day plan.
  • Refine the prefill content with the actual content you want to visualize.
• Step 4: Polish design and emphasize the story.
  • Use color and emphasis to guide attention: Select your preferred color from the presets.
  • Match icons to meaning (users, handshake, analytics) and adjust elements. Add steps where needed, or trim extra bubbles to keep slides focused.
  • Keep layouts clean: one diagram per slide, 3–5 left-aligned bullets, and consistent label casing throughout.
• Step 5: Deliver your deck. Once your deck looks sharp, either present directly in Gamma with smooth transitions and notes, or export as PPT/PDF to share, then do a 30-second skim test to ensure every diagram is clear and each slide has one ‘So what?’ takeaway.

Check the ​full tutorial here​ for a more detailed guide.

Ready to dive deeper? Join the ​Lead with AI membership​ to access this tutorial and get the latest AI updates, guides, and tool walkthroughs.

Every week, I report on the top updates to your favorite AI tools. This week:

Claude can now create and deliver real files

Anthropic just gave Claude a major upgrade: instead of stopping at text answers, Claude can now ​generate and edit actual files​, such as Excel spreadsheets, Word docs, PowerPoint decks, and PDFs, right inside Claude.ai or the desktop app.

What makes it special:

• Multiple formats supported. Claude can produce .xlsx, .docx, .pptx, and PDFs from scratch or by editing your drafts.
• Data-to-insights workflow. Upload raw data (CSV, TSV, JSON) and ask Claude to clean, analyze, chart, and package insights into a ready-to-share file.
• Cross-format transformations. Convert meeting notes into polished docs, reports into slide decks, or extract tables from PDFs into spreadsheets.
• Runs code behind the scenes. Claude executes Python or Node.js safely in a sandbox to handle file creation and formatting.

The feature is live for Max, Team, and Enterprise users now; Pro is rolling out next, with opt-in via “Upgraded file creation & analysis” in Settings.

Perplexity adds ​Streamlined PDFs​

The update lets you ask for a PDF directly in Labs or Research mode and instantly get a downloadable file with a built-in sidebar viewer, so references and citations remain clickable inside the document, making it easier to share research outputs without losing source traceability.

Microsoft adds Scripted Mode to ​Copilot Audio Expressions​

Copilot now offers a verbatim mode alongside “Emotive” and “Story” options, giving you full control over how your audio sounds. Perfect for training scripts, speeches, or precise delivery.

Claude introduces ​Memory​ for Teams and Enterprise

Enterprise users can now enable persistent memory in Claude. The system can remember project details, user preferences, and prior conversations across sessions. Memory can be switched off anytime with Incognito mode, and admins get controls to manage or reset stored data.

OpenAI keeps ​Standard Voice Mode​ in ChatGPT

After feedback from users who preferred the stability and tone of the Standard Voice, OpenAI will keep it alongside the newer Advanced Voice options. This ensures teams relying on a consistent, lightweight voice mode for daily use won’t be forced to switch as the voice system expands.