Archive · 27 Jan 2026
Daniel Kwan Warns Against 2016 Photo Trend
Daniel Kwan, who won an Oscar for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' and produced a documentary called 'The A.I. Doc', warned people not to post photos of themselves from 2016 on social media.
He said tech companies use these photos to train their AI and collect data about people.
He also talked about how tech companies are collecting a lot of personal data and using it for profit.
For example, the immigration agency ICE spent millions on tools that track people's locations.
Kwan also discussed the need for the film industry to work together to set rules for AI, so tech companies don't control everything.
He emphasized the importance of global coordination in dealing with AI.
Daniel Kwan warned against posting 2016 photos on social media, as tech companies use them to train AI.
Tech companies are collecting personal data for profit, with examples like ICE spending millions on surveillance tools.
Kwan emphasized the need for the film industry to unite and set terms for AI to prevent tech companies from controlling it.
He discussed the geopolitical and corporate arms race in AI, highlighting the need for global coordination.
Kwan's conversation at Sundance focused on responsible use of AI and its impact on society.
- Who
- Daniel Kwan, filmmaker and producer
- What
- Warning against posting 2016 photos on social media
- When
- During a Hollywood Reporter AI panel and at Deadline's Studio
- Where
- Sundance Film Festival, Park City's Pendry Hotel
- Why
- Tech companies use such data to train AI and collect personal information
- Person
- Daniel Kwan
- Event
- Sundance Film Festival
- Documentary
- The A.I. Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist
- Warning
- Avoid posting 2016 photos on social media
- Reason
- Tech companies use such data to train AI
- Additional Concern
- Tech companies collecting personal data for profit
- Example
- ICE using surveillance tools like Tangles and WebLoc
- Amount Spent
- $5 million