AwesomeCast 756: How ChatGPT Helped Plan a Dream Trip to Japan (+ AI Life Hacks You Can Try Now!)
🪄 Awesome Things of the Week
Katie’s ChatGPT Interior Design Hack – Katie explains how she used ChatGPT’s image and conversation features to redesign her new home. She uploaded photos, asked for rug sizes and color palettes, and even got real purchase links. Keywords: ChatGPT home design, AI interior decorator, smart home shopping tips.
Sorg’s AI Health Tracking Experiment – Michael shares how he’s using ChatGPT projects as a personal calorie and nutrition tracker, replacing apps like MyFitnessPal. It learns from previous entries, logs meals, and suggests adjustments based on goals. Keywords: ChatGPT health tracking, AI diet log, personal fitness automation.
🦾 Tech Event Highlight
AI & Robotics Demo Day (Pittsburgh) – Discussion of the upcoming Robotics and AI Discovery Day at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Featuring SKA Robotics’ AI bridge-inspection drones, a University of Pittsburgh Formula SAE car, and guest talks including Mark Cuban. Keywords: Pittsburgh robotics event, AI demo day, SKA Robotics drone.
🎮 Chachi Says Video Game Minute
Adaptation Week in Gaming:
Backyard Baseball gets a 2D animated special starring Pablo Sanchez.
Call of Duty movie announced, written by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan and directed by Peter Berg.
Keywords: Call of Duty movie, Backyard Baseball animation, gaming news podcast.
🗾 Brian Crawford’s Japan Tech & Travel Adventure
Why Japan? – Lifelong dream driven by anime and language studies; surprised by how affordable travel was.
AI-Powered Planning: Used ChatGPT to plan routes, understand Japan Rail Pass limitations, and optimize logistics.
Transit Tech: Breakdown of Japan’s ultra-efficient rail and metro systems, from bullet trains to IC payment cards like Suica and ICOCA. Keywords: Japan travel tech, Japanese rail system, IC cards.
Cultural Highlights:
TeamLabs Borderless Tokyo – Immersive digital art museum where visitors scan their own drawings into live exhibits. Keywords: TeamLabs Borderless, immersive digital art Japan.
Avatar Robot Café – Robotic servers operated remotely by people with mobility challenges, merging robotics and accessibility. Keywords: Avatar Robot Café, assistive robotics, inclusive tech.
Shinjuku Cat Billboard & Neon Streets – Famous 3D cat billboard and Godzilla Hotel. Keywords: 3D cat billboard Tokyo, Shinjuku nightlife, Godzilla Hotel.
Unexpected Hospitality: A local guided him to an underground sixth-floor karaoke bar in Kanazawa — a true “lost in translation” moment.
Tech Tools in Action: Relied heavily on Google Translate for real-time speech and sign translation; praises its accuracy with Japanese text.
Cultural Takeaways: Respect, thoughtfulness, and community focus — from no littering (no public trash cans!) to quiet transit etiquette. Keywords: Japanese culture, travel tips Japan, sustainable tourism.
