diff --git a/src/components/home/HomePromptInput.tsx b/src/components/home/HomePromptInput.tsx
index c8b11276..1a1fcbe1 100644
--- a/src/components/home/HomePromptInput.tsx
+++ b/src/components/home/HomePromptInput.tsx
@@ -10,26 +10,40 @@ import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
 import TypingText from "@/components/ui/typing-text";
 
 const PLACEHOLDER_OPTIONS = [
-  "studying for my calculus exam",
-  "research paper on machine learning",
-  "startup pitch for business class",
-  "analyzing psychology survey data",
-  "writing my history essay",
-  "comparing marketing case studies",
-  "organizing my capstone project",
-  "preparing my climate change presentation",
-  "research on social media behavior",
-  "analyzing financial data",
-  "writing my CS project docs",
-  "comparing literature sources",
-  "organizing my internship notes",
-  "studying for my organic chemistry final",
-  "research on renewable energy",
-  "drafting my grant proposal",
-  "preparing for my biology midterm",
-  "organizing my study abroad research",
-  "comparing historical documents",
-  "writing my Nike case study",
+  "Calc 3 double integrals",
+  "planning a 2 week trip to Japan",
+  "APUSH Native American history",
+  "building a home workout routine",
+  "research on Pablo Picasso's paintings",
+  "starting a dropshipping business",
+  "learning React hooks and state",
+  "meal prepping for the week",
+  "organic chemistry reaction mechanisms",
+  "training for my first marathon",
+  "To Kill a Mockingbird analysis",
+  "planning my wedding budget",
+  "basic algebra word problems",
+  "redecorating my living room",
+  "learning Spanish verb conjugations",
+  "learning to invest in index funds",
+  "World War II European theater",
+  "planning a surprise birthday party",
+  "intro to Python programming",
+  "starting a YouTube channel",
+  "AP Bio cellular respiration",
+  "building my personal portfolio site",
+  "high school geometry proofs",
+  "tracking my monthly expenses",
+  "solar system planets and moons",
+  "planning a camping trip to Yosemite",
+  "learning guitar chord progressions",
+  "organizing my home office",
+  "French Revolution causes and effects",
+  "beginner photography composition",
+  "statistics hypothesis testing",
+  "comparing Monet and Van Gogh",
+  "US Presidents and their policies",
+  "physics kinematics problems",
 ];
 
 const baseText = "Create a workspace for ";
diff --git a/src/components/workspace-canvas/YouTubeCardContent.tsx b/src/components/workspace-canvas/YouTubeCardContent.tsx
index b3c2f036..efe7e85b 100644
--- a/src/components/workspace-canvas/YouTubeCardContent.tsx
+++ b/src/components/workspace-canvas/YouTubeCardContent.tsx
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function YouTubeCardContent({ item, isPlaying, onTogglePlay }: YouTubeCar
         <>
           <div className="w-full h-full">
             <iframe
-              src={`${embedUrl}?autoplay=1`}
+              src={embedUrl}
               title={item.name || "YouTube Video"}
               className="w-full h-full rounded-lg"
               allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"