Tylenol vs Autism / Poketomo / Dorm Room Priorities / Square Recently, former President Trump made an unfounded claim that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of having a child with autism. His remarks quickly sparked backlash, and on TikTok, pregnant women began posting satirical videos of themselves taking Tylenol as part of a trending challenge. The controversy spread beyond the U.S. to the U.K., where one expectant mother mocked the claim by acting out a skit in which she punches her husband when he tries to stop her from taking the medicine. |
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This isn’t the first time former President Trump has made an off-the-cuff remark. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he suggested unscientific treatments at a press conference, including injecting disinfectant or using light therapy. Not long after, dozens of people in New York were reported to have ingested disinfectants or bleach. Such baseless claims don’t just end as words—they can spread fear across society and lead to real-world actions with serious consequences. |
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Tylenol’s manufacturer also does not recommend routine use of the drug during pregnancy. When it is absolutely necessary, they advise using the lowest possible dose. While there is no proven link to autism, the medication is known to carry risks such as liver damage. In other words, Tylenol is considered relatively safer than other pain relievers, but that does not mean it is entirely harmless. That’s why it is deeply concerning when political controversy or online satire surrounding this issue risks undermining the safety of pregnant women and their babies.
The bigger problem is that such remarks can fuel unnecessary stigma. When complications arise during pregnancy, comments like “Maybe it’s because you took Tylenol” can cut deeply into a mother’s heart. The reality is that most conditions or traits in children stem from complex causes—not from a single choice a parent made.
Motherhood is a profound calling, but it also comes with immense burdens. I myself was born with atopic dermatitis, but that was never my mother’s fault. Likewise, the fact that my own child is shorter has nothing to do with anything I did or intended. Yet society often rushes to assign blame with remarks like, “You should’ve married someone taller.” But no one chooses these outcomes, and no parent deserves to be treated as if they caused them.
What our society needs now is not blame, but compassion. We need a spirit that honors people as they are, and a willingness to withhold quick judgments. In a time when a single careless comment can leave a lasting wound, it is all the more urgent that we put aside blame and suspicion, and move toward empathy and understanding.
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🐹 Poketomo: A Portable Emotional AI Companion, Like Carrying Charm in Your Pocket
The rise of robots is no longer a distant possibility—it’s already unfolding around us. Just a quick glance at the latest prototypes shows where the future is headed:
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Household robots: Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics, Apple’s experiments with robotic arms
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Floor-care robots: Devices that vacuum, scrub, wash, and refill automatically
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Companion-assistant robots: Roaming home hubs that manage smart devices
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Outdoor robots: Lawn mowers, window cleaners, and more for exterior tasks
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Industrial robots: Like Boston Dynamics machines that specialize in moving delivery boxes
While physical labor is quickly being automated, the next wave of robotics is reaching into our emotional lives. A fascinating example is Sharp’s Poketomo.
Poketomo is a palm-sized, meerkat-shaped robot, standing just 12 cm tall and weighing about 200 grams—roughly the size of a medium apple. Easy to slip into a pocket or bag, it’s designed to be carried anywhere. Beyond its cute appearance, its core strength lies in AI-powered conversation. It remembers interactions without limit, building context over time. For instance, it might recall a past outing and ask, “We went to that café last time—want to go again today?”
What makes Poketomo especially compelling is that it doesn’t just respond—it initiates. It offers words of encouragement, asks questions, and steers the conversation. Synced with a smartphone app, the dialogue can even continue when the robot itself isn’t nearby. Its belly light changes colors to express emotions: a rainbow glow means “I’m really happy.” (Price: ¥39,600 / $264.59, plus a ¥495 / $3.35 monthly fee.)
Imagine the long drive home after work, stuck in traffic for half an hour. At moments like that, the desire to casually chat—like calling a friend—feels natural. That’s where Poketomo becomes more than a toy. It’s a glimpse into how technology is evolving into a “relational presence.”
Poketomo is not just another gadget—it’s a small companion. While many robots handle chores, this one is designed to hold onto our emotions and memories. And chances are, this trend will soon expand into everyday spaces like the car, reshaping how we experience connection in our daily lives. |
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📈 Jenna's Insight
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Tesla’s in-car Grok AI. Remember that? 😄 In short, its response time was so slow that it lost real usability. Just as more robots are entering our homes, the interior of the car is also evolving rapidly.
# From Transportation → Living Space → Emotional Space
We’re already seeing vehicles transform from simple means of transportation into living spaces. But the next stage—the car as an AI-driven emotional companion—is even more intriguing. Beyond voice, facial expressions, and gestures, cars may use textures, colors, and lighting to communicate emotions, making them feel less like machines and more like companions or even friends.
🤔 But here’s the design challenge: how should these emotional states be expressed? Through color and lighting? Dashboard animations? A subtle shift in the steering wheel? This could become a central question for automotive design.
# Not too much!
Of course, not all emotional mimicry is good. There’s a real risk in over-engineering emotional manipulation. Cars must not amplify sadness or trigger unnecessary anxiety. Automotive AI should complement human relationships—not replace them.
# The Foundation of a New “Driver MBTI”
If AI can know us better than we know ourselves, what value can we create from that? It’s an opportunity to personalize driving experiences and strengthen brand identity. Imagine an AI that says:
“You’ve worked late three days in a row, and you’ve had five overtime shifts this month. I’ll play some calming music and make sure you won’t be disturbed while driving.”
That goes beyond convenience—it creates an emotional moment of care.
Sharp’s Poketomo may seem like just a small toy robot, but its vision is anything but small. The real question is how technology can form relationships with humans. And that vision now extends beyond household robots into the car—an everyday space where design plays a critical role.
For automotive designers, this shift should not be seen as just a functional upgrade, but as an opportunity to reimagine the emotional relationship between humans and technology. Cars may soon be more than safe and efficient transport—they could become emotional companions that understand and respond to their drivers. In that sense, Poketomo might just be a preview of what’s to come.
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✍️ Gen Z and the Dorm Room Priorities
In the U.S., when a student heads off to college, it’s common for parents to help set up their dorm room. Some even bring in brand-new beds or do custom woodwork to transform the space completely. It’s a final act of care, knowing that leaving home marks the beginning of independence—much like the bittersweet emotions Korean mothers feel when sending a son off to the military.
For many freshman girls in particular, bringing familiar items from home helps ease the transition into a new environment. In a way, it’s about creating a “home away from home.”
So, what do late-wave Gen Z students value most when decorating their very first dorm room? By looking at their priorities, we can get a clearer picture of how they shape their college experience—and how they express their identity in the process.
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🌙 Better Sleep
For Gen Z, setting up a dorm room often means investing heavily in the sleep environment—because a consistent sleep routine is directly tied to academic performance.
- Functional items: temperature-regulating bedding, bamboo or copper-infused antimicrobial fabrics, blackout curtains, soundproof panels
- Comfort boosters: soft fabrics, sleep masks, aroma sprays
What’s notable is that they don’t see this as just decorating a bed—but as an investment in recovery and performance. |
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Commissioned by collector Philip Sarofim, the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS has been reimagined through the lens of Gen Z aesthetics by designer Sean Wotherspoon. Inside, cork, denim, and flannel come together in a playful mix, while ’60s flannel shirts and corduroy are paired with distinctive flair. The cork dashboard—repurposed from the Taycan project—serves as a bridge between retro and modern. The result is a space where color, texture, and cultural context converge, transforming the car’s interior into more than just design—it becomes a cultural experience. |
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💻 Productivity Nook
In a small dorm room, creating a space that balances study and relaxation is essential.
- Key items: ergonomic chair, height-adjustable desk, portable lighting, multifunctional furniture
- Color & mood: harmonious tones that blend greens and neutrals
- Organization solutions: customized desk organizers
All of these elements go beyond simply decorating a desk—they’re about building a personal corner designed to maximize focus and productivity. |
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If Gen Z’s priorities were translated into automotive interiors, the VW CROSS Concept could be the answer. Inspired by lounges that prioritize comfort and sensory well-being, it features soft-touch surfaces and a warm “vanilla chai” tone that create visual comfort. Plant-inspired motifs in the digital interface, along with real plants integrated into the center console, strengthen the connection to nature—crafting a space that embraces both focus and relaxation. |
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✨ Curated Delights
There are many ways to refresh a room’s atmosphere without spending a fortune.
- Key items: blind boxes, toys, decorative shelves, insulated cup accessories
- Usage: multifunctional items that combine decoration, storage, and practical use
- Effect: providing emotional comfort and adding small joys and personality to a space at an affordable price
Gen Z approaches “budget-friendly decorating” as a way to express their own style and identity without financial strain. |
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College life is both a canvas for redefining the self and a stage for experiencing independence from parents. Gen Z seeks comfort, personalization, affordability, and sensory experiences all at once in dorm life. They value products that go beyond basic functionality to offer emotional connection—making it essential for brands not to overlook these needs. |
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👟 Modular Snow Shoes
The Z-Trek shoes, designed by Zhibo Yang, are snow hiking footwear that adapt to different terrains. They feature a modular design, allowing various environment-specific components to be attached to a single shoe base.
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This footwear is designed to adapt to terrains ranging from ice to thawed ground, inspired by the way animal paws adjust to winter landscapes. Its structural design and modeling apply principles of surface expansion, grip adjustment, and drainage. While the structure is innovative, detailed information about the materials used is not yet disclosed. However, if it incorporated Ecolattice’s recently introduced recyclable thermoplastic elastomer, it would be even more groundbreaking. This material, made from repurposed waste, could significantly reduce the use of new plastics. |
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Polyurethane, commonly used in the automotive industry, is a fossil fuel–based material that cannot be recycled. In contrast, EcoLattice’s material can be reprocessed and reused even after shaping, significantly reducing environmental impact. |
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Yesterday was the last Square Day (a day where the date forms a perfect square) we’ll see in our lifetime. This year alone has had quite a few—January 1, January 4… and now September 25.
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Month: 9 = 3²
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Day: 25 = 5²
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Year: 2025 = 45²
The next Square Day won’t come until April 16, 2116:
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Month: 4 = 2²
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Day: 16 = 4²
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Year: 2116 = 46²
That’s 91 years from now—well beyond my own lifetime. But for today, we can choose to truly live. With just 97 days left in this year, let’s make the most of the time we have left—beautifully and meaningfully.
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