Technology: Disney Characters Are Coming to OpenAI – Morning Brew

Disney, a global entertainment and media conglomerate that owns major intellectual properties like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar, is partnering with OpenAI to license its character IPs for AI-generated content.

• Kenapa Harus Peduli?
  • Strategic – From resistance to control. Rather than blocking AI outright, Disney is choosing to license its characters under strict rules. In doing so, and by investing in OpenAI, Disney is actively defining who gets access and on whose terms.

○ AI and Storytelling – As a result, this opens a new phase of AI storytelling. Characters are no longer just tools or templates. Instead, they become officially sanctioned worlds people can play in, allowing Disney to test whether user generated AI stories can deepen engagement without diluting brand value.

○ Moving Forward – This remains uncharted territory. On one hand, the move gives Disney control over an inevitable trend while creating new revenue streams. On the other, it raises concerns around originality and the future of creative labor.

Culture: Freeze–dried Sweets Are Redefining the Candy Experience – BBC

Freeze-dried sweets are regular candies that have had their moisture removed, transforming them from chewy to crunchy while intensifying their flavor.

• Kenapa Harus Peduli?
  • TikTok Made Me Buy It – They got popular because TikTok creators made them go viral, which drove curiosity and demand. The trend resonated with younger consumers who wanted to try a familiar candy in a completely new texture and experience.

○ Hershey and Mars Want a Piece –  What we are seeing is a classic innovation pattern. Independent sellers rode the initial wave, and as demand for crunchy sweets continues to grow, larger brands are stepping in to scale it.

○ Moving Forward – We are seeing how social media has become a tool for brands to observe conversations about what society and their audiences care about. 

■ However, this also means trends can be driven more by virality and can pressure brands to react quickly, but does virality blur the line between real interest and temporary hype?

International: When Reality Hits Australia’s Social Media Ban – BBC

The recent Australian law that bans children under 16 from social media has sparked debate over whether age verification can actually work.

• Kenapa Harus Peduli?
  • How did it get started? The law emerged in response to parental anxiety and political pressure regarding the overexposure of teenagers to violent content on social media. Its aim is to protect children from harmful material, addiction, and online bullying.

○ What Went Wrong? Almost immediately, teenagers showed how easy it was to get around the ban by using their parents’ emails and other workarounds revealing how difficult the technology is to enforce in practice.

○ Moving Forward – What we are witnessing is a response to the conflict between intention and reality. Teenagers seek connection and exposure to the outside world, and when that is removed, it raises questions about whether bans are effective or if education and greater platform accountability would be more beneficial than outright prohibitions.

Kata Untuk Hari Ini:

Retro Tech

• Refers to old technology that people are choosing to revisit, such as DVDs, vinyl records, film cameras, PSPs, and radios. They are not necessarily better, but they offer a different, more tangible experience.

Quotes of The day:

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” – William Butler Yeats 

• Don’t wait for the perfect moment to take action. Instead, take action now and create your own opportunities.
  • Jangan menunggu momen yang sempurna untuk bertindak. Ambil tindakan dan ciptakan peluangmu sendiri.