The Wildest Ride Yet 🐎

Plus, our new book club, AI skill-building, and spring trip inspo.

Apr 11, 2025

Hey M(AI)VENS,

It’s been a week of delightful surprises: wild new tech (two new robots you gotta see!), a smart AI course, new Spotify tools to build your brand, how to plan the perfect day trip with ChatGPT, and our new book club is here! Because why not celebrate the stories of strong women?

Let’s dive in.

🏍 Future Ride?

This is wild — and kind of amazing. Kawasaki just introduced something called the CORLEO, and it’s a four-legged robot that people can ride. Picture a mashup of a motorcycle, a robot, and a horse — powered by hydrogen. It walks (on rubber hooves!), climbs over rough terrain, and you steer it by leaning or shifting your weight.

They debuted it at the Osaka Kai Expo on April 5, and while it’s still in conceptual phase for now, it has some of us wondering: could this be the future of how our kids get around? Or even a next-gen off-roading ride for adventurous souls?

The future might have four legs.

🤖 Meet Ballie

Speaking of robots… here’s one you might actually want rolling around your living room. Samsung has partnered with Google Cloud to introduce Ballie, an AI-powered home companion robot, set to arrive this summer. This adorable and charming, ball-shaped assistant is designed to manage home environments, including adjusting lighting, greeting people at the door, personalizing schedules, setting reminders, and more. With its built-in projector, Ballie can display content on your walls, making it perfect for movie nights or watching workout videos. Can you imagine him rolling around your home? I can!

🧑‍🏫 Google Offers Low Cost AI Course

If you want some guidance to build a foundational understanding of AI but don’t know where to start, Google is now offering a low cost course called AI Essentials, and it’s perfect for beginners.

It’s self-paced, broken down into 5 modules, takes less than 10 hours total, and it walks you through practical ways to use AI to save time, make better decisions, and spark new ideas.

It even comes with a certificate at the end—so if you’re thinking about ways to add a little something to your LinkedIn profile, this could be a great place to start. Plus, it’s only $49. Check it out here.

🎙 Spotify’s Big Moves: 3 Things Women in Business Should Know

If you’re a podcast host or content creator, Spotify just dropped some major updates that matter for business-minded women:

🎯 Smarter Ad Targeting: Spotify Ads Manager now uses AI to help businesses reach niche audiences—less guesswork, better results.
🎥 Rise of Video Podcasts: Over half of Gen Z and Millennials say video helps them feel more connected to creators. Spotify’s leaning in, big time.
📊 Real-Time Data: New AI insights let creators fine-tune ads for better ROI.

Why it matters: If you're promoting a brand, this might be the perfect time to explore how podcast storytelling can boost your business.

📚 AI has arrived on campus

Many colleges and high schools are still banning AI tools. Meanwhile, American University just launched an Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence inside its business school. Business students will now be trained to use AI for everything from writing financial reports to doing market research—and even reading balance sheets smarter and faster.

Why this matters to women: If you’ve got a child or grandchild heading to college (or already there), this is a wake-up call—AI is becoming just as essential as laptops and coffee. Forward-thinking schools will help students master the AI tools that many workplaces are already demanding.

And to think back in my day I thought my dot matrix printer was cool. 🤣

🚗 Plan the Perfect Spring Day Trip with AI

Spring is the sweet spot for day trips. The weather’s warming up, but it’s not full-on summer chaos yet. Whether you’re craving a solo adventure or planning a quick getaway with a girlfriend, here’s how to use ChatGPT to help you map out the perfect day trip.

Step 1: Tell ChatGPT What You Want

Start with the basics: where you're leaving from, how far you're willing to drive, and the kind of experience you're hoping for.

🧠 Try this prompt:

“I’m planning a day trip from [your city] and want to keep the drive under 90 minutes each way. I’m in the mood for something fun and a little outdoorsy, with a nice lunch and maybe a cute shop or coffee stop. Can you help me plan it?”

This gives ChatGPT a solid foundation to work from—location, time frame, and vibe.

Step 2: Refine the Suggestions

ChatGPT will likely respond with a few destination options and possible stops. Pick one and refine it.

🔍 Follow up with:

“Tell me more about [destination]. What are two must-visit spots there?”
“Are there any events or markets happening this weekend?”
“Can you recommend both a casual and an upscale lunch option in that area?”

Treat this like a conversation—go back and forth to shape the day into the perfect day trip that suits you! ✨

📚 M(AI)VENS Book Club - NEW!

A curated collection of stories featuring bold, brilliant women — from unforgettable fictional heroines to real-life changemakers.

This month, our pick is The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon—a beautifully written historical novel based on the real-life diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife and healer. Set in colonial Maine, it follows Martha Ballard as she defies societal expectations and risks everything to uncover the truth behind a chilling crime.

Full disclosure: I read this recently with girlfriends as part of an in-person book club… and I can’t stop thinking about the heroine, Martha Ballard!

Get your copy here.

As an affiliate, M(AI)VENS may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link — it helps support our growing community at no extra cost to you. We’ve partnered with Bookshop.org because they support local booksellers. 🥰