OpenAI just killed its Sora AI video creation app

OpenAI released its second iPhone app in September with the launch of Sora. Unlike ChatGPT, however, Sora has failed to gain traction. As a result, OpenAI is discontinuing the app.

Sora … to be discontinued

As OpenAI’s second-ever iPhone app, Sora launched to great fanfare.

The AI video app included creation tools as well as a social media feed for generated content.

Video creation basically had no limits, which made creating videos from text prompts easier than ever.

OpenAI was quick to tighten up restrictions around using intellectual property without permission, which basically nuked the app.

OpenAI announced the end of Sora in a post on X:

We’re saying goodbye to Sora. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you. What you made with Sora mattered, and we know this news is disappointing. We’ll share more soon, including timelines for the app and API and details on preserving your work. – The Sora Team

While OpenAI’s announcement doesn’t go into detail, the Wall Street Journal reports that OpenAI is discontinuing its video AI model efforts across the board.

OpenAI has super app ambitions

The move comes as OpenAI reportedly focuses its attention on creating a super app that combines ChatGPT, Codex development tools, and its struggling Atlas web browser.

Sora always felt completely foreign to OpenAI’s portfolio.

The app felt like a toy meant to attract user attention and not a tool used for real production. Still, it attracted Bob Iger’s attention, serving as a component of his final deal before retiring from Disney again.

So what happens to OpenAI and Disney’s deal to license characters on Sora? Did that ever happen? Not enough people used Sora to find out. Actual answer: THR’s Alex Weprin reports that the deal is off.

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