OpenAI Expands Sora with Character Cameos and Video Editing as Android Launch Approaches

Sora update to bring AI videos of your pets, new social features, and soon, an Android version | TechCrunch

OpenAI is teasing a series of updates coming to its viral app for AI-generated videos, Sora, which recently shot to the top of the App Store after a late September launch. The app, which remains at No. 1 in the U.S. and Canada, will introduce video editing tools, offer the ability for users to create character "cameos" of pets and other objects, improve social features, and more. Plus, the company says the Android version of the app is "actually coming soon." The announcement was made on X by Sora head Bill Peebles, who says the new creation tools will arrive in the next few days. These include the ability to turn pets and other items, like a "favorite stuffed toy and pretty much anything else," into cameos. The term "cameo" refers to the Sora feature where users can make AI personas of themselves after providing the app with a recorded video as a reference file. These cameos can be shared with friends and others, allowing them to make videos with your AI character. "We're expecting people to register lots of crazy new cameos with this feature. To make them easier to find, we're updating the generation UI to show the latest trending cameos in real time," Peebles wrote on X. In addition, he says the app will introduce basic video editing features, starting with stitching together multiple clips. More tools will be added over time. An updated social experience is also underway, which would add new ways of using Sora with friends. These may include dedicated channels specific to a university, company, sports club, and more. The company says it's working to reduce the excessive moderation of generations, which some users have complained is too strict, and improve the overall app performance. Though the app is currently listed on the Google Play Store for pre-registration, OpenAI hasn't yet shared a launch date for its arrival. Peebles says it should be live "soon," but he didn't offer more details. Third-party app store data from Appfigures estimates Sora has seen around 2 million downloads since its launch less than a month ago. This figure is notable, given that the app remains invite-only and launched in just the U.S. and Canada.

OpenAI's Sora Is Getting Another Wave of New Features, Including Video Editing

Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing. It's been just a few weeks since OpenAI dropped its AI slop (sorry, AI video) app, Sora, and the company is already gearing up for its next major wave of updates. In a new post, OpenAI's head of Sora Bill Peebles outlined what's coming soon for the AI-video app, including new creation tools, improved social features and much-anticipated Android support. Peebles says Sora is about to gain new creation tools in the form of character cameos, which are now expanding beyond people. Cameo is Sora's chief feature that lets you use other people's likenesses to create nearly any kind of AI video. Soon, you'll be able to cameo your dog, guinea pig, favorite stuffed toy or generated characters from existing Sora videos. The app's generation interface will also highlight trending cameos in real time, likely building off of popular existing social media features like the For You page or Explore page on Instagram. OpenAI is also adding basic video editing tools, starting with the ability to stitch clips together directly in the app. Peebles says more advanced editing features are on the way, hinting at a broader creative suite that aims to move Sora beyond short, one-off generations to an app that can be used by professional creators. On the social side of things, the team is experimenting with new ways to use Sora with friends and communities, rather than just a global feed. That could mean channels for your university, workplace, hobbies or sports teams, bringing a more localized vibe to what has so far been a mostly chaotic public stream of AI videos. In his post on X, Peebles also confirmed the Android version of Sora is coming soon. These changes follow the first major Sora update earlier this month, which introduced longer video limits and a storyboarding feature. The company announced free Sora users can make videos up to 15 seconds long on the iPhone app and the web (which is the only way Android users can use Sora at the moment). Pro users also get an extra 10 seconds when they create on the web, for a total of 25 seconds. The announcement came one day after Google upgraded its popular AI video model, Veo 3, to handle longer video generations. Since your Sora account is linked to your ChatGPT account, if you pay for ChatGPT Pro, you're a paying Sora user. (For more information, see all the payment plans.) Storyboarding, available only to Pro users on the web, lets creators plan out videos on the web before generating them. Storyboarding has long been a part of the professional filmmaking process and is occasionally included in more professional software programs. Google's AI filmmaking program Flow, for example, allows for storyboarding. But this is an interesting and somewhat unexpected addition to Sora. Read More: Here's the Quickest Way to Get a Special Code for the Viral Sora 2 App Sora has only been around a short time, but the vibe on the app is focused on shorter, funny videos, echoing OpenAI's claim that the app is designed to help people connect with their friends. Professional-grade videos that are longer and better planned aren't very common, but these upcoming updates will likely change that. This could be a sign that OpenAI is hoping to draw in the professional creators it has previously alienated. Professional creators would need storyboarding, video editing, longer run times and higher resolutions, and OpenAI seems to be tackling them quickly. OpenAI has a rocky past with professional creators. Before Sora launched, the company reportedly approached talent agencies and other firms, like gaming and streaming companies, saying they would need to opt out of having their intellectual property accessible via Sora. That is, if Nintendo didn't want Sora users to be able to make AI videos of Pikachu, it needed to tell OpenAI that. That's not how copyright law works. OpenAI changed its policies a few days after Sora's launch and added more controls over how your likeness can be used. It was just the latest episode in an ongoing battle between AI companies and creators. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

OpenAI adds reusable 'characters' and video stitching to Sora

"Once created, each character comes with its own permissions, separate from your personal likeness: keep it just for yourself, share it with mutual followers, or open it to everyone on Sora," OpenAI says in the latest Sora release notes. "Give your character a display name and handle, and tag it whenever you want it to appear in a video." OpenAI says that character cameos can be created using "an original persona" that users generate in Sora, but it's unclear if the feature will accept fictional people generated using other AI tools, or how photorealistic they're permitted to be. If you can just upload any AI-generated person, OpenAI hasn't explained how Sora would distinguish these from images of real people. The update is being launched within days of celebrity video platform Cameo slapping OpenAI with a trademark infringement lawsuit over its usage of "cameo" in Sora app features.

OpenAI's Sora will soon land on Android, bringing major upgrades in tow

AI giant OpenAI took the world by storm when it unveiled the video generation tool Sora all the way back in February 2024. Fast-forward to September of this year, the ChatGPT giant unveiled Sora 2, a major upgrade that not only improved the tool's video fidelity and prompt adherence, it also brought native audio with improved lip-syncing, more controls to edit output, and the option to generate longer videos. We recently tried out the AI tool and found it to be scarily good. We know there's potential for the tool to be misused, but up until now, OpenAI's several safeguards and guidelines seem to be holding the line strong. As Android users, we're waiting to join in on the fun. The Sora app is currently limited to iOS, though according to recent hints and an explicit confirmation by Sora head Bill Peebles, the Sora Android app is "actually coming soon," as pointed out by TechCrunch. Sora's next act Peebles, in addition to Android availability, also announced several new features coming to Sora. These include: More creation tools and character cameos. Think cameo-ing your pets, toys, "and pretty much anything else." Expect this to land in the coming days. Updating the generation UI to highlight the latest trending cameos in real time. Basic video editing capabilities, including the option to stitch together multiple clips. More "very powerful" editing features to come soon. Elsewhere, OpenAI is also exploring new ways to make Sora's "social experience" much better. This includes exploring new ways to use Sora with friends and the borader community. "Think channels that are specific to your university, company, sports club, etc.," wrote Peebles. Sora users can also expect a reduction in "excessive moderation" of new generations, alongside an improvement in the app's overall performance. If Google's Veo doesn't quite suit your needs, you can pre-register to try out Sora on Android via the link below.

OpenAI's Sora App Adds Character Cameos and Video Stitching Tools

OpenAI has rolled out another update to its Sora AI video app, one that builds on its existing video generation features with new tools designed to help users create longer, more narrative-driven content. For anyone unfamiliar with the name, Sora is an invite-only AI video app and social network. It lets you create realistic, cinematic, and anime-style AI videos of yourself, friends, and other people, complete with synchronized speech and sound effects. The headline feature in the latest update is character cameos, which expands on Sora's ability to create AI videos of real people. Users can now create reusable characters from any video upload - whether from their camera roll or existing Sora-generated content - and tag them in future video generations. Once created, each character gets its own display name and handle, along with customizable permissions. Users can keep characters private, share them with mutual followers, or make them available to everyone on the platform. OpenAI is launching the feature with a selection of starter characters, including Halloween-themed options like Frankenstein, Dracula, Witch, and Ghost. The update also introduces video stitching, allowing users to select multiple clips from their drafts and merge them into a single sequence. There's also a new community leaderboards feature that showcases the most remixed videos and most frequently used characters and cameos. The character cameo feature has already landed OpenAI in hot water - celebrity video platform Cameo filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against OpenAI just days before the update launched, challenging the company's use of "cameo" in Sora's features. The Sora app debuted late last month and crossed one million downloads faster than ChatGPT did, despite being invite-only and available in just two countries at launch.

Sora's next big update brings pet cameos, basic editing, faster performance - and yes, the Android app is real

OpenAI's video app Sora is getting a huge upgrade that could change what floods your social feeds next. Bill Peebles, who leads the Sora team, revealed that the next version adds pet cameos, basic video editing, faster performance, and, finally, an official Android app. If you haven't used Sora yet, it's OpenAI's short-form video platform that lets you generate realistic clips from text prompts. Think TikTok meets DALL-E, bringing AI Slop, some genuinely interesting videos, and mostly viral chaos to social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and X. Here's everything you need to know about what's coming to Sora in the near future. I think the main headline announcement from Peebles' tweet is the news that in the coming days, "you'll be able to cameo your dog, guinea pig, favorite stuffed toy, and pretty much anything else you want." So if you're used to seeing pet videos on your social media feed, they're about to get a whole lot more AI-powered. In fact, as a dog owner myself, this announcement makes me worry for the future of my Instagram enjoyment as I spend most of my time on social media sending my wife silly videos of French Bulldogs. Sora is also adding the ability to create cameos of characters that have previously been generated, allowing you to continue the story of AI personas that have popped up throughout your time using the video generation tool. Combine these new features with "basic video editing capabilities," and you'll soon be able to stitch together clips straight from the Sora app, making it even harder for those of us who consume vertical content to tell what's real and what's made by AI. Until now, Sora 2 has been limited to the web and via the OpenAI-developed iOS app. But now, according to Peebles, Android is about to get some love. He said, "Finally, the Android version of Sora is actually coming soon". So if you're a user of one of the best Android phones and have been craving the ability to generate videos of you and your Golden Retriever playing baseball on the moon, you're in luck: You'll be able to soon. Peebles also emphasized OpenAI's commitment to creating a more social experience with Sora and said, "We're working on making the social experience much better. We are exploring new ways to use Sora with your friends (versus just a global feed) and broader community. think channels that are specific to your university, company, sports club, etc." This upcoming feature should allow you to share relevant content with other people who enjoy the same topics as you, essentially creating a TikTok For You page in the Sora app. For all the fun new features, there's an obvious downside. Social platforms are already flooded with synthetic media, and Sora's new tools could make the problem worse. When every pet owner can generate high-definition fantasy clips starring their dog, the line between real and AI is going to blur even further. Your feed might get cuter, but also a lot less authentic. That's not necessarily a reason to panic, however. You see, the same tools that produce fake pets could help indie creators, teachers, or storytellers make short films that would've been impossible on a budget. But the speed at which Sora is evolving is striking, and social media as we've known it is about to change forever (again).

Sora's next big update will turn your furry friends into video stars

New AI cameos, video editing tools, social features, and an Android app are on the way. What's happened? OpenAI has outlined several major updates coming to its AI video generation app Sora, just a few days after Google announced upgrades for Flow. The app will soon allow users to create AI "cameos" of pets, toys, or other objects, and share them with others. Users will also be able to easily search cameos created by others and view trending cameos in real time. OpenAI will add new video editing features to the Sora app, starting with the ability to stitch multiple clips. The roadmap also includes an updated social experience with dedicated channels for universities, compnies, or sports clubs. OpenAI has also confirmed that Sora's Android app will launch soon. Why is this important? These updates will expand Sora's capabilities and offer users a new way to share their creations with friends. The ability to create cameos of just about anything will allow users to generate more personalized content. The new editing tool will help users create longer videos by combining multiple clips. By enhancing social features, OpenAI could boost user engagement and retention. The Android app will bring Sora's impressive capabilities to a wider audience. Why should I care? The Sora update will allow you to easily turn your pet or favorite stuffed toy into an animated character. You'll be able to share these characters or use popular characters created by others for your own videos. The editing features should improve your video generation workflow by eliminating the need to switch to a different app. With the upcoming Android app, you'll soon be able to experience Sora's impressive capabilities on your phone. Recommended Videos What's next? Sora users on iOS can expect the new cameos, editing tools, and social features to roll out in the coming days. The Android version of the app could follow soon thereafter, but OpenAI has not shared a release date yet.

Sora Will Soon Let You Make Cameos of Your Pets

The app is currently iPhone-only, but is coming to Android soon. Sora, OpenAI's short-form AI video platform, has been available for iPhones for the past few weeks. Users have spent that time generating hyper-realistic vertical videos that, despite their watermarks, might already be fooling people on the internet. I, for one, see nothing good about a tool that can make these types of videos from simple prompts, perhaps outside the sheer novelty alone. But the app is undeniably popular, and, as expected, OpenAI is continuing to "improve" it. On Wednesday, the head of Sora, Bill Peebles, shared a roadmap of updates coming to the app, from cameos for your pets to video editing tools. Peebles says that "character cameos" are on their way in the coming days. When this feature drops, you'll be able to make cameos of just about anything you want, including your pets (Peebles suggests your dog or guinea pig), stuffed toys, as well as AI-generated characters Sora may have produced in your past videos. Cameos are a defining, and controversial, Sora feature. It lets you scan your likeness into the app so you can create videos featuring yourself. Not only that, you can remix videos with cameos of anyone else who has scanned themself into Sora -- assuming their permissions allow you to use their cameos. It's impressive tech, but it raises major ethical concerns, considering you can make someone else do or say things they never signed off on. Now, apparently, you'll also be able to do the same with the family cat or your childhood stuffed animal. Following these additional cameo options, Peebles says you'll be able to see "the latest trending cameos in real time." I'm guessing the idea is to browse the most popular cameos on the platform, and, if you want to, add them to your own videos. Sora is also getting basic video editing tools. According to Peebles, this starts with the ability to stitch multiple clips together, though other "powerful new features" will follow. Peebles says the Sora team is also working on reducing "excessive moderation," which he acknowledges is "super annoying" to users, as well as improving the app's performance. Speaking of apps, Android users will soon have their chance to try Sora. Right now, the app is iOS-only, but Sora's Android version is "actually coming soon," Peebles says. As critical and cynical as I am about Sora and services like it, I can see the utility here. I imagine people will get a kick out of being able to put their pets in any situation they want. And if they want to make fried eggs sing a song, or a stuffed animal say "hello," more power to them. But my main concerns with this app are not assuaged by any of these updates: Sora still lets you generate convincing videos with a simple prompt, with the only safeguard a watermark that's easy to remove if you know where to look. People were already falling for fake videos on the internet before these tools came along; now, it's becoming way too difficult to know whether what you're watching is actually real or not. If you ask me, you're better off assuming all of it is fake.

OpenAI Sora adds character cameos and video stitching

OpenAI's Sora app introduces reusable "character cameos" and video stitching capabilities, along with leaderboards, for its AI-generated videos in the US, Canada, Japan, and Korea. These character cameos, part of the Sora 2 video generator, expand on existing features allowing users to create AI deepfakes of themselves. The updated functionality enables users to apply these capabilities to subjects like pets, illustrations, and toys. The feature launches with pre-made characters for immediate use in videos. OpenAI's latest Sora release notes clarify character permissions: "Once created, each character comes with its own permissions, separate from your personal likeness: keep it just for yourself, share it with mutual followers, or open it to everyone on Sora." Users can assign a display name and handle to their character and tag it for appearance in videos. The company states that character cameos can be generated using "an original persona" created within Sora. Details remain unclear regarding the feature's acceptance of fictional individuals generated by external AI tools or the permissible level of photorealism for such creations. OpenAI has not specified how Sora would differentiate between AI-generated fictional people and images of real individuals if outside AI-generated people are permitted. This update follows a trademark infringement lawsuit filed against OpenAI by celebrity video platform Cameo concerning the use of "cameo" in Sora app features. Sora introduces video stitching, allowing users to combine multiple videos for longer, multi-scene clips. Leaderboards will showcase the most remixed videos and frequently cameoed users and characters. OpenAI has made the Sora app more accessible "for a limited time," removing the invitation code requirement for users in the US, Canada, Japan, and Korea.

You Might Soon Get to Use the Sora App on Android

OpenAI is also planning to revamp the app's social experience OpenAI is planning to bring the Sora app to Android very soon. Ever since the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) giant released the Sora app on iOS, it has been an instant hit. The app allows users to generate AI videos featuring themselves and other users and share them on a global feed. It is also the only place where those without a ChatGPT subscription can try out the company's Sora 2 model. With the expansion to Android, more users will be able to access the video model. Sora App to Come to Android Soon In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Bill Peebles, Head of Sora at OpenAI, announced, "the Android version of Sora is actually coming soon." The phrasing of the sentence makes it likely that the app launch could take place within the next few weeks. Despite the launch, there is a chance that the app will continue to be invite-only, and people will require the invite code to access it. Regardless, Sora on iOS saw one million downloads in the first five days, reaching the target faster than ChatGPT, even with invite-only and regional (only available in North America) restrictions. Notably, Android Authority spotted the Sora app's listing on the Play Store. It is currently available for pre-register, with no release date mentioned. However, this option is not available in India. This could mean the Android app's availability is also restricted to North America. Peebles also announced a new improvement to the Cameo feature. So far, users can only cameo videos of other users who have consented to be cameo'd. But soon, users will be able to cameo pets, inanimate objects and "pretty much anything else you want." They will also be able to feature Sora-generated characters in other videos. Apart from this, Sora is also getting its first editing tool in the form of a stitching tool that can combine multiple clips to make a longer one. OpenAI is also working on improving the social element of the app. So far, users have only had a single, global feed to share and see posts. But the company is now planning to add channels for smaller communities such as universities, companies, sports clubs, and others.

OpenAI brings Sora to Android and gives users new ways to remix reality

Sora's first editing feature will let users stitch multiple video clips together within the app. OpenAI has announced a series of updates for its Sora AI-generated video application, which launched in late September. Bill Peebles, head of Sora, detailed the changes on X, which include new creative tools and an upcoming Android version for the app. The new creation tools, set to arrive in the next few days, will introduce a "cameo" feature that allows users to create AI personas from non-human subjects. This expands the existing functionality where users provide a recorded video of themselves to generate a shareable AI character. Peebles specified that users can now turn pets, a "favorite stuffed toy and pretty much anything else," into these cameos for friends and other users to incorporate into new videos. In his announcement, Peebles anticipated a significant user response to this new capability. "We're expecting people to register lots of crazy new cameos with this feature," he wrote on X. "To make them easier to find, we're updating the generation UI to show the latest trending cameos in real time." This user interface change is designed to manage and highlight the expected influx of new character models created by the community. The application will also receive its first video editing features. The initial tool will provide the basic capability to stitch multiple clips together, and OpenAI confirmed that more advanced tools will be added over time. A refreshed social experience is also part of the update, introducing new ways for users to collaborate. These plans include the potential for dedicated channels specific to groups such as a university, a company, or sports clubs. OpenAI is additionally addressing user feedback by working to reduce what some have described as overly strict moderation of generated content. Concurrently, the company is focused on improving overall app performance. While the Sora app is currently listed on the Google Play Store for pre-registration, a specific launch date for the Android version has not been provided. Peebles stated it should be live "soon," without offering further detail. The iOS version of the app currently holds the No. 1 rank in the U.S. and Canada App Stores.