OpenAI's Sora App Takes iOS by Storm: Viral Success and Invite-Only Hype

Reviewed byNidhi Govil

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OpenAI's new AI video generation app, Sora, has seen a meteoric rise on the iOS App Store, rivaling ChatGPT's launch success despite being invite-only. The app's popularity has sparked a resale market for invite codes and raised questions about AI's role in social media.

Sora's Explosive Launch and Adoption

OpenAI's latest offering, the Sora app, has taken the iOS App Store by storm, achieving a remarkable feat in its first week of launch. Despite being an invite-only platform, Sora has managed to secure the No. 3 position on the U.S. App Store's Top Overall chart, surpassing expectations and rivaling the success of its predecessor, ChatGPT

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Source: Observer

Source: Observer

According to data from app intelligence provider Appfigures, Sora saw an impressive 627,000 iOS downloads in its first seven days of availability. This figure nearly matches ChatGPT's 606,000 iOS downloads during its initial week, despite ChatGPT being more publicly available at launch

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Sora's Unique Offering and User Engagement

Sora distinguishes itself as a social media platform centered around AI-generated videos. Utilizing OpenAI's advanced Sora 2 video model, the app allows users to create and share realistic deepfake videos, pushing the boundaries of AI-driven content creation

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Source: CNET

Source: CNET

The app's layout mimics traditional social media platforms, enabling users to discover and interact with other people's video creations. This approach has led to a surge in user-generated content, with Sora videos becoming ubiquitous across various social media channels

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Invite-Only Strategy and Market Dynamics

OpenAI's decision to launch Sora as an invite-only app has created an interesting market dynamic. The limited availability has sparked a resale market for invite codes, with listings appearing on platforms like eBay. Prices for these codes range from $20 to $35, highlighting the high demand for access to the app

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Source: PC Magazine

Source: PC Magazine

Technical Capabilities and Future Prospects

Sora 2, the AI engine powering the app, boasts significant improvements over its predecessor. These enhancements include synchronized dialogue and sound, better adherence to physical laws, improved understanding of complex instructions, and more realistic results

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While currently free to use with "generous limits," OpenAI has hinted at potential monetization in the future. As the user base expands, the company may need to adjust the daily video generation limits to manage computational costs and maintain service quality

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Ethical Considerations and User Protection

The rise of AI-generated videos has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding the creation of deepfakes. OpenAI has implemented safeguards within the app, including likeness protection features that allow users to control how and when their image is used in others' creations

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However, the technology's potential for misuse has already sparked debate. Zelda Williams, daughter of the late actor Robin Williams, has publicly requested that people stop sending her AI-generated images of her father, highlighting the sensitive nature of deepfake technology

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