Sand AI blocks politically sensitive content in AI video model

Sand AI, a recent player in the China artificial intelligence sector, has introduced an open source video generator called Sand AI. The launch quickly won admiration from leaders in the tech industry, although anyone eager to try Magi-1 needs to access it through the company’s online platform due to its demanding hardware requirements.

Despite the excitement, would-be users are discovering strict content controls when attempting to create videos. The platform rejects image uploads that include politically sensitive subjects like the Chinese president, Tiananmen Square, the Tank Man protest figure, or symbols relating to Hong Kong or Taiwan.

How Censorship Shapes Innovation

The prompt filtering occurs even if users modify image file names, highlighting a content-level screening approach built into the service. Anyone attempting to use restricted images receives a direct error from the system.

These controls reflect the pressures created by Chinese information laws, which require artificial intelligence developers to ensure that their tools do not undermine official narratives or threaten domestic unity. As a result, Chinese AI startups typically implement rigorous prompt or data filters to meet regulatory standards.

Other technology companies in China, such as those operating the Hailuo media generator from Shanghai-based MiniMax, apply similar restrictions, though Sand AI’s blocking is unusually thorough. For example, while Hailuo restricts images of the president, it still allows some content related to Tiananmen Square, indicating variations in enforcement.

In a revealing contrast, Chinese platforms tend to permit more latitude with adult-themed material, often lacking US-style protections against unauthorized explicit imagery. This dual approach to censorship—heavy on politics and lighter elsewhere—highlights the complex regulatory environment in which these AI firms operate.

Magi 1 and its competitors continue to develop cutting-edge technologies under close government supervision, shaping both the capabilities and limits of publicly available tools. As artificial intelligence evolves, the boundaries set by policymakers will keep playing a central role in how these innovations reach the world.