OpenAI is reportedly shutting down its Sora video-generation tool, less than two years after it first drew widespread attention. Sora was introduced in 2024 as a way to create realistic video clips from simple text prompts. Early demos generated a lot of buzz, especially around how quickly the quality seemed to improve.

But that momentum didn’t quite translate into long-term traction. OpenAI has now announced that it plans to step back from video generation and focus more on areas like robotics and so-called “agentic” AI.

That said, the situation around Sora isn’t a clean, immediate shutdown. While OpenAI has indicated that it is discontinuing the app and winding down development, the tool hasn’t disappeared overnight. The web version, for instance, is still accessible for now, and there’s no clearly defined cutoff date yet. It suggests Sora is in a transition phase—no longer a priority, but not fully offline either.

The shift isn’t just about the product itself. OpenAI is also walking away from a major content partnership with The Walt Disney Company, which had been announced only a few months ago. The deal, reportedly worth around $1 billion, would have allowed Sora users to generate videos featuring well-known Disney characters.

According to reports, the agreement hadn’t progressed far enough for any payments to be made, and Disney was caught somewhat off guard by the decision. The company has since said it will continue exploring AI partnerships elsewhere, while keeping a close eye on how its intellectual property is used.

Sora’s commercial performance may have played a role here. Despite the initial excitement, the platform reportedly brought in around $1.4 million in global in-app revenue—a relatively small figure compared to ChatGPT’s $1.9 billion over a similar period. There were also ongoing concerns around moderation, including misuse involving deepfakes, copyrighted content, and non-consensual imagery.

At the same time, competition in the space has been heating up, with new tools emerging from other companies. Combined with legal risks and rising infrastructure costs, continuing Sora may have been harder to justify.

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Open AI has been allowing users to create AI-generated videos of famous deceased figures such as Michael Jackson, Queen Elizabeth, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking. These clips, often shared on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Reels, have sparked both fascination and controversy. While some user-created videos are humorous, others cross the line into disrespectful territory. OpenAI has now paused the ability to generate videos of Martin Luther King Jr., following reports of offensive depictions. Read on to know the reason behind this decision.

OpenAI halts MLK videos, releases statement

As per an official X (formerly Twitter) by Open AI, ithas temporarily stopped users from generating AI videos of Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora video platform after receiving a request from the late civil rights leader’s estate. The pause comes after some users created inappropriate or mocking portrayals of Dr. King, leading to public backlash.

OpenAI stated that while there are “strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures,” it believes that “public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used.” The company further added that authorised representatives or estate owners can now request OpenAI to restrict use of their likeness in Sora.

Growing debate on consent and ethics in AI video generation

Sora, launched recently, allows users to create highly realistic AI-generated videos of historical figures and celebrities. However, the platform has become a centre of debate regarding consent and ethical boundaries in AI-generated content.

Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., urged users to stop circulating AI clips of her father, echoing similar requests made by Robin Williams’s daughter about deepfake recreations of her late father. Reports indicate that users had produced offensive videos showing Dr. King making animal noises or fighting with Malcolm X, which many viewed as deeply disrespectful.

The controversy highlights a wider issue concerning how AI platforms handle depictions of real people, both living and deceased. OpenAI has confirmed that it is working on new safeguards that will allow copyright holders, estates, and families to manage or block unauthorized recreations. The company has also said it plans to introduce tighter moderation policies for Sora while continuing to refine its AI video tools.

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OpenAI has launched Sora, its cutting-edge AI-powered video generation model, for public use. Initially introduced as a research preview in February 2024, Sora is now accessible to paid ChatGPT subscribers. If you’re eager to explore this innovative tool, here’s a detailed guide on how to access and use Sora.

What is Sora?

Sora is an innovative video generation model that creates videos using text prompts and supports additional functionalities. It operates similarly to OpenAI’s earlier image-generation tool, DALL-E, but extends these functionalities into dynamic video creation. Users can animate static images, remix existing videos, and merge multiple clips to produce cohesive results.

The model offers advanced tools such as Storyboard, Re-cut, Remix, and Loop, enabling users to make highly personalized videos. Sora is designed for casual users and professionals and is accessible through a dedicated platform.

Who Can Access Sora?

Access to Sora is currently limited to paid subscribers of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro plans. ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who pay $20 per month, can generate up to 50 videos per month with a resolution of up to 720p and a duration of up to 5 seconds.

ChatGPT Pro subscribers, who pay $200 per month, can create up to 500 priority videos per month with high-resolution outputs of up to 1080p and 20 seconds in duration. Pro users can also generate unlimited relaxed-mode videos and download them without watermarks. Free, enterprise, or educational accounts do not currently have access to Sora.

Steps to Access Sora

To access Sora, users need to subscribe to either ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro. After subscribing, users can visit Sora’s dedicated platform at Sora.com and log in using their OpenAI account credentials. Once logged in, users can configure their profile settings and adjust preferences such as default resolution or toggling the option to publish creations on the Explore feed.

To generate videos, users can enter a description in the text input field or upload an image or video clip to remix or extend. Before submitting the prompt, users can adjust parameters like resolution, duration, and aspect ratio. Sora offers features such as Storyboard, where users can arrange frames on a timeline, and Remix, which allows modifications to video elements.

The Loop feature helps create seamless looping videos, while Blend lets users combine two videos into a single cohesive clip. Once the video is ready, users can preview, download, or share it. Pro subscribers can download videos without watermarks.

Tips for Smooth Access

Users experiencing delays with Sora should clear their browser cache and cookies, as outdated cache data can interfere with performance. Using an incognito window can help resolve issues caused by browser extensions. Checking OpenAI’s system status page is also recommended to ensure there are no server issues. Users may experience faster response times during off-peak hours, as demand tends to be lower.

Limitations

While Sora offers immense creative potential, it also has limitations in handling complex actions and maintaining realistic physics over longer videos. OpenAI has implemented several safeguards to ensure ethical usage and prevent the creation of harmful content, such as deepfakes.

Availability

Sora is currently rolling out globally, although its availability may be delayed in certain regions such as Europe. Users can check the list of supported countries on the Sora website to confirm if it is accessible in their area.

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OpenAI has developed an amazing text-to-video tool named Sora that can generate realistic video clips based on simple text prompts. However, there has been a question since the launch of this new tool – what data OpenAI used to train the model.

The CTO of OpenAI was asked In an interview if they used YouTube videos to train the model, and she could only say “I’m not sure about it.” Later on, the COO also refused to answer whether the model was trained on content from YouTube. Nonetheless, there are reports claiming that OpenAI has used YouTube videos to train Sora.

In the latest news, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai has responded to the matter saying he will sort it out if the allegations turn out to be true. According to a New York Times report, OpenAI used over a million hours of content from YouTube just to train Sora.

“Look, I think it’s a question for them to answer. I don’t have anything to add. We do have clear terms of service,” noted Sundar Pichai upon being questioned whether the matter is a violation of Google’s terms and conditions. “And so, you know, I think normally in these things we engage with companies and make sure they understand our terms of service. And we’ll sort it out,” he added.

Reportedly, The New York Times has already sued OpenAI for using their copyrighted content on AI training. However, he didn’t reveal how he plans to sort out the matter.

In an ideal scenario, a creator should know and own the right to opt in or out of the use of their content by someone else. The AI training requires a ton of data and it’s likely to be collected from the web, but not without permission. In fact, upon being questioned whether OpenAI used content from YouTube, the company’s COO hinted that alongside building a tool that can detect AI-generated images they are also working on developing “a content ID system for AI that lets creators understand as they create stuff where it’s going, who’s training on it, being able to opt in and out of training”.

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OpenAI unveiled its groundbreaking text-to-video tool, Sora, last month that can generate realistic-looking 1080p videos. Currently, it is only available to a handful of filmmakers and creators who are testing it to find out vulnerabilities and fixing them, ensuring it is safe before they roll it out to the public. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI’s chief technology officer Mira Murati informed that they are aiming to launch Sora to the public before 2025 and that it could even happen within “a few months”.

OpenAI’s aim for Sora is serving creators with a tool that they can “edit and create with”

Unlike the video showing Will Smith eating spaghetti that was unveiled just one year ago, Sora generated content in “hyperrealistic” (except for some weird representation of hands and fingers) and OpenAI CTO says they won’t serve this tool to the public before they ensure it’s safe to do that. Notably, Sora-generated videos will also be watermarked just like many other text-to-image generation tools.

When asked about how this tool might affect the jobs of creators in the future, CTO Murati said that their aim is to serve this text-to-video generation model as a tool to help creators in their work instead of replacing them.

“You know, the way that I see it is this is a tool for extending creativity and we want people in the film industry, creators everywhere, to be a part of informing how we develop it further and also how we deploy it. And also, you know, what are the economics around using this model when people are contributing data and such.”

Speaking of data, when asked about what data they have used to train Sora, she didn’t go much further but just said it is “publicly available and licensed data.” It could be videos from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and similar platforms.

Notably, Sora doesn’t include audio in the generated clips and OpenAI reportedly has plans to integrate audio in the future. Although, it might not be Sora but an even better version of it with a different name. Just like DALL-E, you will need to pay to be able to use the model and OpenAI CTO Murati said that the aim is to

Meanwhile if you are wondering how to use Sora AI, know that the access is still limited.

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