Create an account at smartmanager.ai. You must be 18 or older. New accounts start with a free three-day trial; see Billing for how it works.

Setting up your workspace takes a moment the first time, because each account gets its own data store. The screen shows what's happening while it works.

Use Smart Manager in your browser, or download the desktop app for macOS, Windows or Linux from the home page.

Zero is the assistant inside Smart Manager. On your first visit it asks three quick questions: what you do, what's eating your week, and who matters most right now. You can talk or type, and you can skip any of them. Your answers go into Memory so Zero knows where to start.

Talking turns on your microphone and the "Zero" wake word. You can turn them off anytime.

Connect Google (Gmail, Calendar and Contacts) or Microsoft (Outlook, Calendar and Contacts). Zero reads your recent mail, newest first, along with your calendar and contacts, and finds what needs you this week: replies you owe, meetings to prep and clashes to sort out.

Zero reads and drafts, but never sends without you. See Connecting accounts for details.

Once your mail is read, your first brief is ready. It lists what needs you, with drafted replies you can review, change and send yourself.

A short checklist covers the five things that make Smart Manager click. Each step completes when you actually do it, not when you tick a box:

• Send a drafted reply. Zero drafts it; you read it and press send.
• Prep a meeting: who's coming, what's open, what to bring up.
• Ask about a person: everything you've said to each other, in one answer.
• Set one workflow: something Zero does for you on a schedule.
• Go hands-free: turn on the "Zero" wake word or gestures.