A Chinese AI video startup appears to be blocking politically sensitive images

techcrunch.comPublished: 4/22/2025

Summary

Sand AI's Magi-1 model has impressed tech experts but faces censorship in China, with images of Chinese leaders like Xi Jinping being blocked due to sensitivities. Despite its high-quality video generation capabilities and computational demands, the tool is only accessible through Sand AI's platform. This reflects broader regulatory constraints in China, where AI models are increasingly restricted to ensure safety guidelines are upheld.