On May 18, 2026, Starbucks Korea launched “Tank Day,” a promotion for its “Tank” tumbler series. However, May 18 is also the date of the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement, when South Korean military forces violently suppressed pro democracy protesters.

• Kenapa Harus Peduli?
  • “Thwack it on the table”– The controversial slogan was reportedly developed with the help of an AI tool. 

○ 26.3% Dropped – Starbucks Korea’s payment volume dropped 26.3% in the week following the controversy, falling from 32.16 billion won to 23.69 billion won.

○ Moving Forward – The backlash triggered an extremely swift response.Starbucks Korea pulled the promotion within hours, apologized, and Shinsegae Group fired Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung hyun.This shows that even the smallest promotion can have a huge impact on a brand when the cultural context is overlooked.

Based on Sprout Social’s 2026 findings, 56% of Gen Z are more likely to trust brands that publish human created content, while 40% are unlikely to interact with AI generated content.

• Kenapa Harus Peduli?
  • Trust – Many Gen Z want brands to stop posting AI content without clearly labeling it.

○ Not a problem – Although many prefer human created content, AI content doesn’t automatically mean they won’t interact with it. 34% are likely to like, comment, and share AI generated content.

○ Moving Forward – Gen Z can sense when something doesn’t feel genuine, so when brands use AI, it’s better to say it than hide it.

■ So very much a takeaway here -> You don’t have to pretend everything is human. Just be honest about what isn’t.

As AI polishes everything we make with less time and better wording, does imperfection become what we crave in the future for the sake of creation?

• Kenapa Harus Peduli?
  • The Imperfection of Authenticity – We are entering a world where even sentences can be upgraded, images can be perfected, and creations can be generated. What happens when everything is so perfect?

○ Is imperfection a desire we crave in the future?

○ Moving Forward – what is authentic?

■ Maybe ugly things are pretty afterall.

TFW    

• That feeling when
  • TFW when you wake up and realize it was Saturday

Don’t chase every room, build the room that fits you. 

       –         Jangan mengejar setiap kesempatan, bangunlah ruang yang sesuai dengan dirimu.