OpenAI shuts down Sora after six months, ending Disney's $1 billion licensing partnership
96 Sources
[1]
The end of Sora also means the end of Disney's $1 billion OpenAI investment
OpenAI's recently announced plans to shutter its Sora video-generating app have also scuttled the company's planned $1 billion licensing partnership with Disney, according to multiple press reports. "As the nascent AI field advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI's decision to exit the video
[2]
Sora's shutdown could be a reality check moment for AI video | TechCrunch
OpenAI announced this week that it's shutting down its Sora app and related video models just six months after launching the app. On the latest episode of TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Sean O'Kane, and I debated what the decision means for OpenAI and for the industry more broadly.
[3]
OpenAI Enters Its Focus Era by Killing Sora
OpenAI said Tuesday it would discontinue Sora, its AI video app, roughly six months after launch. The company also said it would shutter the Sora API that allowed developers and Hollywood studios to access the text-to-video model. The move shows how the ChatGPT-maker is trying to focus its efforts
[4]
OpenAI's Sora was the creepiest app on your phone -- now it's shutting down | TechCrunch
OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it is shutting down Sora, a TikTok-like social app that launched six months ago. OpenAI did not give a reason for the shut down, nor did it share information about when it will officially be discontinued. When Sora first opened up as an invite-only social network,
[5]
OpenAI's Slop Machine Sora Is Dead. We're All Better Off Without It
OpenAI on Tuesday said it will discontinue its once-viral AI video app, Sora, 176 days (or about 6 months) after it was initially released. It bravely asked the question: Do we really need this? For once, it came to the right answer. No, no, we do not. This is the biggest, most public project
[6]
Why OpenAI killed Sora
On Tuesday morning, everything was business as usual at OpenAI. By the end of the day, the company had announced that it would scrap its video-generation app, Sora, and reverse plans for video generation inside ChatGPT; it would wind down a $1 billion Disney deal; it would shuffle the role of a
[7]
Sora Video Generator Reportedly Costs OpenAI $1 Million a Day
When OpenAI announced it was sunsetting Sora last week, it didn't go into too much detail, tweeting only that it was "saying goodbye" to the video-generation app. Its PR team later issued a statement to note that OpenAI faced growing compute needs and would shift the Sora research team to "world
[8]
OpenAI kills Sora, becomes product assassin
OpenAI on Wednesday announced the death of its controversial Sora video creation tool, just two days after publishing a guide on how to use it well. Like so many AI products, Sora was capable of creating revolting content and blatant copyright abuse. OpenAI tidied up those messes and then signed a
[9]
OpenAI Plans to Discontinue Support for Sora AI Video Generator
OpenAI plans to discontinue its Sora AI video generator six months after the high-profile launch of a standalone app for the service, as the company works to simplify its portfolio of artificial intelligence products. The ChatGPT maker debuted the Sora app in late September with the promise of
[10]
OpenAI's Once Viral Sora AI Video App Is Being Discontinued
OpenAI confirmed on Tuesday that it is discontinuing its once-viral AI video app, Sora. "We've decided to discontinue Sora in the consumer app and API. As we focus and compute demand grows, the Sora research team continues to focus on world simulation research to advance robotics that will help
[11]
Que Sora, Sora
Two years ago the US actor and movie producer Tyler Perry was so flabbergasted by OpenAI's text-to-video product Sora that he immediately suspended a long-planned $800mn studio expansion, and warned of a meteor about to strike his industry. As he told the Hollywood Reporter at the time: I have
[12]
OpenAI officially cans its Sora AI app only six months after its release
Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill
[13]
That Was Fast. OpenAI to Shut Down Sora Video Generator App
In a shocker, OpenAI will discontinue Sora, the video-generation app that briefly went viral last year but has since cooled off. "We're saying goodbye to Sora," the Sora account tweeted on Tuesday, adding: "We'll share more soon, including timelines for the app and API and details on preserving
[14]
OpenAI is shutting down its Sora video generation app
OpenAI is shutting down its Sora video generation app. "We're saying goodbye to Sora," the company wrote in a X post published Tuesday afternoon. For now, OpenAI has yet to say when the app and its related API service would become unavailable. Instead, promising to share those details at a later
[15]
OpenAI pulls the plug on Sora, the viral AI video app that sparked deepfake concerns
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- OpenAI is shutting down its social media app Sora, which went viral last fall as a place to share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence but also raised alarms in Hollywood and elsewhere. OpenAI said in a brief social media message Tuesday that it was "saying
[16]
OpenAI's Identity Crisis
The company's sudden decision to pull the plug on Sora is a sign of deeper trouble. When I opened Sora this morning, I was met with a flood of strange and disturbing AI-generated videos. On OpenAI's video app, I scrolled through fabricated scenes of the Iran war and a barrage of fake Donald Trumps
[17]
OpenAI pulls the plug on Sora, ending $1 billion Disney deal in sudden pivot
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Winners & losers: OpenAI is scrapping its Sora video-creation app and, in the process, abruptly ending its high-profile $1 billion partnership with Walt Disney Co. Announced Tuesday, the decision
[18]
OpenAI ends Disney partnership as it closes Sora video-making tool
OpenAI has shut down its artificial intelligence (AI) video-generation app Sora less than two years after its launch made headlines for creating realistic clips based on simple prompts. At the same time OpenAI will also wind down its content partnership with entertainment giant Disney, the BBC
[19]
OpenAI Is Shutting Down Sora, Its A.I. Video Generator
The start-up said it would discontinue Sora just three months after signing a multiyear deal to bring Disney characters to the service. OpenAI is shutting down Sora, the video-generation technology the company unveiled in 2024, shocking entertainment executives with its ability to use artificial
[20]
Don't Get Too Attached to Any AI App
Last fall, it looked like Sora, a video generation model, was set to be OpenAI's next big thing. Last week, the company abandoned it completely in a decision so sudden that it even caught Disney by surpriseâ€"and the House of Mouse had a $1 billion pledged investment tied to the model. Now, the
[21]
OpenAI Sora is gone. The artists are still working.
Last September, when OpenAI quietly released the Sora 2 app to the public, the discourse around it was not quiet at all. Commentators who had spent months watching the model's preview clips, the golden retriever bounding through autumn leaves, the Tokyo street scene that looked almost real, lined
[22]
OpenAI is shutting down Sora, and the timing is hard to ignore
Disney is also pulling out of a deal with OpenAI, and IPO speculation is raising questions about the real reason behind the shutdown. OpenAI has confirmed it's shutting down its standalone Sora app, and while the company hasn't shared a clear reason yet, the move is raising questions about the
[23]
OpenAI to end Disney deal and Sora video app
OpenAI will wind down its $1bn deal with Disney and scrap its video generation model Sora less than six months after the two companies had struck an investment and licensing agreement. Sam Altman's AI start-up on Tuesday announced it would discontinue the Sora video app to focus its computing
[24]
OpenAI is killing the Sora app
Chethan is a reporter at Android Police, focusing on the weekend news coverage for the site. He has covered tech for over a decade with multiple publications, including the likes of Times Internet, Guiding Tech, and Android Headlines, to name a few. Chethan's love for Android dates back to the
[25]
Sora isn't the only thing OpenAI shut down this month - 9to5Mac
On Tuesday, OpenAI announced that the company is shutting down Sora, its AI-generated video app. The iPhone app only arrived in September, making its six-month existence brief and fun, much like using the app itself. It turns out Sora isn't the only thing the makers of ChatGPT are nixing this
[26]
Disney's Sora Disaster Shows AI Will Not Revolutionize Hollywood
It turns out when you try to serve slop on a product people pay for, no one wants it. Barely three months ago, the Walt Disney Company announced that it would be bringing user-generated AI slop to Disney+ as part of a landmark $1 billion investment into OpenAI that would allow people to use Sora
[27]
OpenAI's Sora video app is going away
Competitors like Google's Veo and Runway now dominate the AI video generation market that Sora once promised to lead. Remember Sora? Developed by the powerhouse behind ChatGPT, Sora's AI-generated videos became instant social media sensations and spawned nightmares in Hollywood. But while the
[28]
OpenAI shutting down Sora video generation app, but without explaining why
OpenAI has announced that its AI video generation app, Sora, is shutting down, and there's no explanation as to why. In a post on Twitter/X, OpenAI confirmed that Sora is shutting down - the standalone app, that is. The post initially said Sora as a whole, but was edited to clarify "Sora app."
[29]
OpenAI is killing off Sora -- and it reveals a massive problem for the future of AI
Sam Altman just pulled the plug on Sora: Inside the '100 Gigawatt' pivot that ended OpenAI's $1 billion Disney deal It feels like just yesterday Sora 2 rolled out, and the internet collectively held its breath. For a moment, the "waitlist" was the most exclusive club in tech, and the promise was
[30]
OpenAI pulls the plug on Sora, the viral AI video app that sparked deepfake concerns
SAN FRANCISCO -- OpenAI is shutting down its social media app Sora, which went viral last fall as a place to share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence but also raised alarms in Hollywood and elsewhere. OpenAI said in a brief social media message Tuesday that it was "saying
[31]
OpenAI Discontinuing Sora AI Video App
OpenAI today said that it is ending support for its Sora AI video app just six months after it initially launched. 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
[32]
R.I.P Sora (2024-2026)
I wrote a week ago that Sora was likely on the chopping block amid OpenAI’s pivot to business and productivity tools. It looks like they were serious. It's going to be gone soon. Despite Sora’s ability to generate headlines (When it was first previewed, we at Gizmodo called it “Breathtaking,
[33]
The Sora Embarrassment is a Reflection of OpenAI's Juvenile Culture
Sam Altman has always cut a strange figure to me; like a teenager in many ways. Even his Twitter bio, "AI is cool I guess," is a sullen and petulant remark. Sora, the AI video app he just shuttered that cost $15 million a day to run but only ever made $1.4 million for OpenAI, was more like a silly
[34]
Why is OpenAI like this?
That much is clear from the bizarre way the ChatGPT company killed off Sora, its shortform video app -- just one of multiple dramas that seem to be playing out in tandem at Sam Altman's company. So much so that you'd be forgiven for wondering whether there is any method to this madness. The Sora
[35]
OpenAI pivots from consumer hype to business reality
Why it matters: Compute resources to power AI are in higher demand than ever, and OpenAI's flashier, energy-hungry, unprofitable offerings were bound to be the first heads to roll ahead of a potential IPO. Catch up quick: OpenAI announced Tuesday it would shut down Sora, the video-generation app
[36]
OpenAI unexpectedly kills Sora, and I wonder if this is the start of a mini AI bubble collapse
* OpenAI is shutting down Sora * It's not clear why, but people will be able to somehow save the videos that they created in the app and elsewhere * Disney may have also exited its big OpenAI deal In a stunning turn of events, OpenAI has unexpectedly shuttered the Sora app, and Disney may have
[37]
OpenAI shutters AI video generator Sora after just six months
App that allowed people to make and share AI videos was popular but received criticism for racist and violent content In an abrupt announcement on Tuesday, OpenAI said it was "saying goodbye" to its AI video generator Sora. The move comes just six months after the company's splashy launch of a
[38]
OpenAI is shutting down Sora, its powerful AI video model, app and API
OpenAI is shuttering Sora, its stand-alone AI video generation app and social network, and the availability for developers to access the Sora 2 video model family through its application programming interface (API) to rely on it for their own products or video generation pipelines. The
[39]
OpenAI killed the Sora AI video generator and you're probably guessing the "why" wrong
OpenAI's viral AI video tool didn't fail because of controversy, its real problem was far more practical. OpenAI's AI video generator Sora is officially done, less than a year after it went viral. At first glance, it's easy to assume the shutdown was about safety concerns or creative backlash. But
[40]
OpenAI Fumbled Its $1 Billion Deal With Disney
On Tuesday, news emerged that OpenAI was canning its chaotic and controversial text-to-video AI app, Sora. The app, which was announced to much fanfare late last year, has struggled to retain users, with downloads plummeting. The stream of uninspired AI slop wasn't just and rife with
[41]
OpenAI shutters Sora app after deepfake concerns
As of Tuesday, OpenAI is closing Sora across all its forms -- including the consumer app and a professional platform that moviemakers and others used to create images for use in film, TV, and other media, the company told The New York Times. "We're saying goodbye to Sora," the company said in a
[42]
OpenAI just killed its Sora AI video creation app - 9to5Mac
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. As OpenAI's second-ever iPhone app, Sora launched to great fanfare. The AI video app included creation tools as well
[43]
OpenAI to Shut Down Sora Video App, Derailing $1 Billion Deal with Disney - Decrypt
The shutdown also appears to end a reported $1 billion Disney investment tied to licensing major characters. OpenAI said Tuesday that it will shut down Sora, its AI video-generation platform, discontinuing an app that allowed users to create short videos from text prompts. The decision ends the
[44]
OpenAI just killed Sora as company readies IPO and new 'Spud' model
OpenAI debuted the sequel version Sora 2 just this past fall, even if it proved to be everything wrong with AI. Additionally, the company is shelving plans to ship video capabilities in ChatGPT. The move comes just as prospectus documents leaked indicating OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman are pursuing an
[45]
OpenAI to close Sora app over backlash over deepfakes and AI slop
Despite signing a three-year deal with The Walt Disney Company that let users generate videos with over 200 Disney characters, OpenAI is shutting down its viral video app Sora. OpenAI is abruptly shutting down its social media video generator app Sora, which went viral last autumn as a hub for
[46]
OpenAI kills Sora video app in pivot toward business tools
San Francisco (United States) (AFP) - OpenAI said Tuesday that it would shut down its artificial intelligence video generation app Sora barely six months after its launch, as the company shifts toward business tools ahead of a potential stock market debut. "We're saying goodbye to Sora," the
[47]
OpenAI discontinues Sora video generation app, Disney pulls out of $1 billion investment deal
The shutdown of the app is reportedly part of a broader strategic shift away from video generation in favor of productivity apps. The bell has tolled for Sora, OpenAI's video generation tool that once cranked out a very popular clip of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stealing graphics cards from Target.
[48]
OpenAI pulls the plug on its Sora AI video app
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting. OpenAI said Tuesday that it is discontinuing its Sora AI video app. The
[49]
OpenAI shutting down Sora video generating service in stunning move
OpenAI will soon be shutting down its Sora AI video generating service, the company said in a surprising announcement Tuesday. "We're saying goodbye to Sora," the company wrote in a post on X. "We'll share more soon, including timelines for the app and API and details on preserving your
[50]
OpenAI Just Killed Sora
OpenAI is looking ahead to a potential initial public offering later this year. It's the end of an (albeit short) era: OpenAI is reportedly shutting down Sora, the company's once-viral AI video generation app. The Wall Street Journal was the first to break the story, and reports that the company
[51]
Disney Says It Will Find Ways to Peddle Slop Elsewhere After Pulling Out of OpenAI Deal
Just three months after it was announced, Disney's partnership with OpenAI has ended with OpenAI's shuttering of its Sora AI video app. Late last year, Disney announced it was joining forces with OpenAI, investing a billion dollars and opening the gates for hundreds of Disney characters to become
[52]
OpenAI Kills Sora and Loses Disney's $1B Investment
In September, OpenAI launched the newest version of its generative AI video model, Sora 2, to significant initial fanfare and equally big copyright concerns. Today, just months later, OpenAI killed Sora. Although OpenAI only mentioned the end of the standalone Sora app on social media, The Wall
[53]
OpenAI's Sora shutting down as Disney exits deal
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at an investor summit earlier this month. Credit: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Pour one out for Sora, the groundbreaking -- but quickly overtaken -- video generation app from OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT. Born Dec. 2024, and baptized by a billion-dollar Disney deal a year
[54]
OpenAI will shutter Sora video app
Why it matters: OpenAI is prioritizing capital, chips and enterprise products over experimental bets as it faces increased competition from Anthropic and Google. The big picture: Sora was consuming significant compute. * All the frontier AI companies are dealing with a shortage of processing
[55]
With Sora's death, AI's age of frivolity may be ending
On March 25, OpenAI announced that it was killing the app, along with the Sora API that let developers generate their own videos using the company's technology. The decision appeared hasty: OpenAI still hasn't shared details on when, exactly, Sora will cease to exist, or how users can download
[56]
OpenAI shutters controversial AI video generator Sora
Reports suggest Disney's $1bn equity investment into OpenAI will not progress. OpenAI is shutting down its controversial AI video generator Sora just months after announcing a multi-year licensing deal with Disney. The company told BBC that the discontinuation will enable it to focus on other
[57]
OpenAI says it's pulling the plug on Sora, its generative AI video creation tool - SiliconANGLE
OpenAI says it's pulling the plug on Sora, its generative AI video creation tool In a dramatic U-turn, OpenAI Group PBC has announced it's discontinuing its much vaunted Sora AI video application, just months after rolling out a massive update. The decision comes in the wake of declining interest
[58]
OpenAI kills the Sora AI video app, and it likely won't ever return
Sora was supposedly on its way to ChatGPT. Now, the AI video generator is going away forever. Merely six months after it launched as a standalone app, the Sora AI video generator app is riding into the sunset. The move is pretty surprising, as Google has ramped up its AI video efforts with Veo,
[59]
OpenAI Is Reportedly Killing Its Disastrous Video AI Slop App
Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech It didn't take long for OpenAI's text-to-video AI app, Sora, to melt down into outrageous drama. Almost immediately after the company rolled out the flashy smartphone app in early October, it became ground zero for photorealistic
[60]
OpenAI Ends Sora Video Platform as Disney Pulls $880 Million Investment
OpenAI has confirmed it will discontinue its Sora video generation platform, shutting down both the application and its associated API as part of a broader strategic shift. While the company has not yet disclosed a final shutdown timeline, it stated that additional information will be shared in the
[61]
Why OpenAI really pulled the plug on Sora
OpenAI has shut down Sora, its AI video-generation tool, just six months after its launch. The decision comes amid concerns about high operational costs and dwindling user engagement, not data collection as previously speculated. According to WSJ, Sora's user count peaked at around one million
[62]
Sam Altman Is Finally Admitting Something No One Else Wants To
Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from email alerts for Nitish Pahwa? Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The A.I. bubble might finally be on the verge of popping. On Tuesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
[63]
OpenAI is shutting down its Sora app while Disney withdraws $1 billion investment
TL;DR: OpenAI is shutting down its Sora AI video generation app and API due to declining user interest, negative perceptions of AI-generated videos, and legal challenges from publishers over copyrighted content. This move aligns with OpenAI's shift toward enterprise applications, prompting Disney
[64]
OpenAI to Shut Down Sora After Just Six Months
OpenAI has announced it is shutting down its video generation platform Sora after just six months, with CEO Sam Altman reportedly telling staff the company is winding down all of its video products. "We're saying goodbye to the Sora app," Sora posted to X on Tuesday. "We know this news is
[65]
OpenAI pulls the plug on Sora, the viral AI video app that sparked deepfake concerns
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- OpenAI is shutting down its social media app Sora, which went viral last fall as a place to share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence but also raised alarms in Hollywood and elsewhere. OpenAI said in a brief social media message Tuesday that it was "saying
[66]
OpenAI's Video AI Platform Sora Was Costing It $1 Million A Day
OpenAI's video app Sora launched last September. In no time, users started sharing generative slop, ripping off everything from Dragon Ball Z to SpongeBob. It's now shutting down and a new Wall Street Journal report reveals why. It was shedding active users and costing the company a fortune.
[67]
OpenAI's Sora is dead, but ByteDance has already filled the void
With over seven years as a writer, reviewer, and editor, Hassam has explored nearly every corner of the tech world, from consumer electronics and software to the innovations shaping the industry today. His curiosity started with tinkering with semiconductors as a child and grew into a full time
[68]
OpenAI Just Killed Sora, and It's All Anthropic's Fault
On Tuesday afternoon, the official X account for Sora, OpenAI's video-generation app, announced that the platform was shutting down. "We're saying goodbye to the Sora app," the company wrote, adding that timelines for when the service will cease will be coming soon. The app was launched just six
[69]
OpenAI Pulls the Plug on Sora, the Viral AI Video App That Sparked Deepfake Concerns
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- OpenAI is shutting down its social media app Sora, which went viral last fall as a place to share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence but also raised alarms in Hollywood and elsewhere. OpenAI said in a brief social media message Tuesday that it was "saying
[70]
Sora is dead. Social media is dancing on its grave. Does OpenAI shutting down its video app mean the AI bubble is bursting?
Subscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day The news came as a surprise, especially given Disney's billion-dollar investment in Sora in December, which came with a licensing deal that would allow Disney characters to appear in Sora-generated videos.
[71]
OpenAI Will Soon Shut Down the Popular AI Video-Generating Sora App
It is rumoured that OpenAI wants to integrate Sora within ChatGPT OpenAI, on Tuesday, announced plans to shut down the popular Sora app. The discontinuation impacts both the mobile app and the application programming interface (API). The San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) giant did
[72]
Disney quashes $1 billion deal with OpenAI after Sora video app shutters, vows to "continue to engage with AI platforms"
Just months after announcing a $1 billion deal with OpenAI to bring AI video to its platforms, Disney is killing the agreement Disney is no longer planning to follow through with its agreement to invest $1 billion in OpenAI to bring user generated AI videos to its platforms, including Disney Plus.
[73]
ETtech Explainer: Why is OpenAI shutting down Sora, its text-to-video app? - The Economic Times
OpenAI is shutting down its Sora video generation platform, including its app, API, and ChatGPT integrations, just over a year after its December 2024 launch. This decision follows internal debates about computational costs and a strategic shift towards more revenue-generating areas like coding and
[74]
OpenAI Abruptly Shuts Down Billion-Dollar Disney Collaboration 'Sora'
A billion-dollar collaboration that Disney and OpenAI once predicted could remake Hollywood instead quietly flamed out Tuesday, its death marked by a single post on social media. "We're saying goodbye to Sora," the Sora team said in the statement. "To everyone who created with Sora, shared it,
[75]
OpenAI Pulls the Plug on Sora Just Months After Launch
OpenAI has announced that it's "saying goodbye" to Sora, the social media platform that featured exclusively AI-generated videos. "To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you," the company said in a statement on Tuesday. "What you made with Sora mattered,
[76]
The Internet Reacts To OpenAI Killing Its Sora Slop Farm
The AI video generator is dead so the internet is dancing on its grave Yesterday, OpenAI confirmed it would be shutting down Sora, its AI video generation app and social media platform that churned out slop featuring characters from Pokémon, Spongebob, Dragon Ball, and many other copyrighted
[77]
OpenAI pulled the plug on Sora without warning -- even Disney didn't see it coming
It's finally happened: OpenAI just pulled the plug on Sora, its AI video creation tool. First introduced in 2024, OpenAI presented the AI video generation app as the future of film and cinema, even signing a high-profile $1 billion licensing deal with Disney to bring its characters to the
[78]
The Real Reason OpenAI Suddenly Shut Down Sora
OpenAI's recent decision to shut down Sora, its AI-powered video generation platform, highlights the complex balance between innovation and financial sustainability. Launched to significant fanfare, Sora quickly gained traction with over one million downloads in just five days, driven by its
[79]
OpenAI shuts down video creation tool Sora, Disney pulls $1 billion deal
OpenAI, the company behind the ever-famous ChatGPT, is shutting down its AI video creation platform Sora. The company announced the end of Sora just last night, thanking its userbase for taking part, and assuring them there are plans in the works for preserving what people made using
[80]
OpenAI discontinues support for Sora and winds down Disney deal
OpenAI plans to discontinue its Sora AI video generator, six months after the high-profile launch of a standalone app for the service, as the company works to simplify its portfolio of artificial intelligence products. The ChatGPT maker and Walt Disney are also winding down their partnership,
[81]
OpenAI drops AI video tool Sora, startling Disney, sources say - The Economic Times
The Sora decision means the end of a blockbuster $1 billion deal between Disney and the ChatGPT maker that was announced a little more than three months ago. As part of the three-year deal, Disney said it would invest $1 billion in OpenAI and lend more than 200 of its iconic characters to be used
[82]
OpenAI Shuts Down Sora to Focus on New Priorities in Generative AI Space
It reflects a deeper strategic recalibration as AI companies navigate rising costs, regulatory scrutiny, and intensifying competition. OpenAI has decided to shut down its advanced text-to-video platform Sora. Once hailed as a breakthrough in generative AI, Sora demonstrated the ability to create
[83]
OpenAI Abandons Its Sora Video Platform to Focus on Super App | PYMNTS.com
This shift marks a retreat from a fragmented do-everything product strategy as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO) as early as the fourth quarter of this year. CEO Sam Altman informed staff on Tuesday (March 24) that the company will wind down products using its
[84]
OpenAI to Shut Down the Sora Video App
"We're saying goodbye to Sora. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you," the company said in a statement. "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
[85]
RIP Sora: Why OpenAI Just Pulled the Plug on Its Hyped Video AI
OpenAI's decision to discontinue Sora, its AI-driven video generation platform, highlights a shift in the company's strategic focus. Matt Wolfe explains that Sora's high computational demands and limited scalability made it difficult to sustain alongside OpenAI's broader objectives. By retiring
[86]
OpenAI is shutting down Sora video creation platform months after launch
OpenAI has announced that it is discontinuing its AI video generator Sora, just months after launching its standalone app. The platform gained traction after the release of Sora 2, quickly reaching the top position on app store rankings and drawing attention for generating hyper-realistic AI videos
[87]
What does OpenAI's Sora shutdown mean for the future of AI video?
Back in October, OpenAI's Sora 2 AI video generator and fake social media app were being described as "the end of Hollywood". They went viral due to their ability to put people into realistic-looking short videos using just reference imagery and simple text prompts. Five months later, they're
[88]
OpenAI Kills Sora Video Generator, Walt Disney Abandons $1Bn Deal
Sam Altman had got Walt Disney to commit a billion dollars in a deal that involved allowing Sora to use all is characters Having recently buried its instant checkout dreams, OpenAI has decided to shut down its video-generation tool Sora, that flashy smartphone app launched last October which
[89]
Disney pulls out of OpenAI deal: What does Sora's shutdown mean for the AI video future?
Disney has ended its investment deal with OpenAI. This follows OpenAI's decision to close its Sora AI video app. The studio had planned to use Sora technology. Now, Disney will explore other AI platforms. They aim to integrate new technologies responsibly. This move impacts the AI video generation
[90]
Why OpenAI is shutting down Sora
OpenAI is shutting down its Sora video platform, the text-to-video app it launched last September. The developer API for Sora is also being discontinued, and video functionality will not be supported inside ChatGPT either. The Sora team will pivot to robotics and world simulation research. The app
[91]
OpenAI shuttering Sora AI video app after Disney made character-licensing deal
OpenAI is shutting down its social media app Sora, which went viral last fall as a place to share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence but also raised alarms in Hollywood and elsewhere. OpenAI said in a brief social media message Tuesday that it was "saying goodbye to the Sora
[92]
OpenAI to shut down Sora video app after six-month run - WSJ By Investing.com
Investing.com - OpenAI plans to discontinue its Sora video-generation service six months after debuting a standalone app, the company said Tuesday, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal. The ChatGPT maker will also shutter the application programming interface that developers use for
[93]
OpenAI Shuts Down Sora Generative Video App, Disney Pulls Out of Investment and Licensing Deal
Sam Altman's OpenAI has shut down its controversial video generation app Sora just months after it launched, the company announced Tuesday. As a result, Disney has exited the $1 billion investment deal it made last year with OpenAI that would have allowed Sora to license Disney-owned characters
[94]
OpenAI Scraps Sora; Terminates Partnership with Disney
Unveiled in 2024, Sora had stunned the entertainment industry with its ability to rapidly produce realistic video content. The innovation sparked as much excitement as it did concern regarding the future of creative professions. A Promising Partnership Cut Short Barely three months ago, OpenAI
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OpenAI discontinuing Sora AI video: What went wrong for ChatGPT maker?
I don't really remember the last time I used Sora but I liked the tool. It was a fun post-gaming activity for me and my friends to generate stupid clips of one another using Sora. We may have only done it twice or thrice but each time there would be some clip that Sora would generate that would
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OpenAI is killing Sora AI video generation app, leaves internet divided
It was later edited to clarify that only the Sora app is being discontinued. OpenAI has announced that it is shutting down the standalone Sora AI video generation app. The company shared the news through a post on X (formerly Twitter), but did not give the reason behind the decision. In its post,
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OpenAI announced it will discontinue its Sora AI video app just six months after launch, effectively killing a planned $1 billion licensing partnership with Disney. The shutdown marks a strategic pivot as OpenAI focuses on enterprise products ahead of a potential IPO, while raising questions about the viability of AI video generation as a consumer product.
OpenAI's Decision to Discontinue Sora Ends Disney Partnership
OpenAI announced this week that it will shut down Sora, its AI video app, roughly six months after launching the standalone platform in October 2025
1
. The Sora shutdown also terminates the company's planned $1 billion licensing partnership with Disney, which was announced with great fanfare in December but never materialized into actual funds changing hands1
. According to multiple press reports, Disney was blindsided by the decision, with one source describing it as "a big rug-pull" for the entertainment conglomerate1
. Disney responded diplomatically, stating it respects OpenAI's decision to exit the AI video generation business and shift priorities elsewhere1
.
Source: DT
The December agreement would have made over 200 Disney-owned characters available for use in Sora-generated videos, coupled with a $1 billion equity investment from Disney
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. However, the deal was always subject to negotiation of definitive agreements and required corporate approvals, conditions that were never met1
. Reuters reports that Disney and OpenAI are still discussing whether another partnership or investment opportunity could emerge from the ashes1
.
Source: CXOToday
Strategic Pivot Toward Enterprise Products and IPO Readiness
The move signals a major strategic pivot for OpenAI as it prepares for a potential IPO. Chief financial officer Sarah Friar told CNBC that OpenAI needs to be "ready to be a public company"
3
. Since ChatGPT's launch, CEO Sam Altman has run the company like Y Combinator, placing bets on a wide range of products including browsers, hardware devices, robots, and coding agents3
. Now, OpenAI's leaders have given a stern mandate to refocus around key areas, particularly enterprise products and productivity tools2
.One focus area is a "superapp" that will combine ChatGPT, Codex, and Atlas into a unified consumer interface
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. OpenAI is also bolstering its enterprise business, with Codex surpassing $1 billion in annualized revenue in January and continuing to grow3
. In a statement, an OpenAI spokesperson said the Sora research team will now work on "world simulation research to advance robotics that will help people solve real-world, physical tasks"3
.Declining User Engagement and Revenue Challenges
The AI video app struggled with user engagement after an initial burst of interest. Sora peaked at approximately 3.3 million downloads across iOS and Google Play in November 2025 before plummeting to just 1.1 million downloads by February 2026, according to Appfigures Intelligence
1
4
. Across its lifetime, Appfigures estimates Sora generated just $2.14 million in revenue from 11.7 million downloads1
. That figure pales in comparison to the massive costs associated with AI video generation, making it a drop in the bucket for a company already operating at significant losses1
.
Source: MakeUseOf
The app's decline stands in stark contrast to ChatGPT's 900 million weekly active users
4
. TechCrunch's Equity podcast described OpenAI's decision as "a sign of maturity that was nice to see in an AI lab," with hosts noting the importance of companies being able to iterate quickly and kill off products that aren't working2
.Deepfake Misuse and Content Moderation Failures
Sora faced significant challenges with deepfake misuse and content moderation from the start. The app's flagship "cameos" feature allowed users to scan their faces and create realistic deepfakes of themselves, which could then be made public for anyone to use
4
. Despite guardrails intended to prevent videos of public figures who hadn't opted in, users easily evaded these protections4
.Deepfakes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robin Williams emerged, prompting their daughters to publicly request users stop making videos of their deceased fathers
4
. Users also intentionally created content using copyrighted characters like Mario, Naruto, and Pikachu, inviting legal trouble4
. The app felt like "an under-moderated minefield," with one journalist noting they would "never be the same" after watching realistic clones of Sam Altman in disturbing scenarios4
.Reality Check for AI Video Industry
The Sora shutdown represents a reality check moment for AI video makers and evangelists who claimed these tools would replace Hollywood soon
2
. ByteDance has reportedly delayed launching its SeeDance 2.0 video model worldwide due to engineering and legal questions around building IP protections into the system2
. Disney had sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance last month, calling the app a "virtual smash-and-grab of Disney's IP"1
.Copyright concerns have plagued the AI video generation space. When Sora 2 launched in October, OpenAI initially asked copyright holders to opt out of having their works used as training data, but following public outcry, reversed course to require opt-in consent with vague profit-sharing promises
1
. The technical and legal challenges prove that creating feature films by typing prompts remains very far from reality2
.Related Stories
Implications for OpenAI's Resource Allocation
Researchers at OpenAI have described the company's culture as "bottom-up," allocating resources to promising ideas as they emerge rather than following executive roadmaps
3
. While this created fertile ground for AI research, it also spread GPUs and employees thin3
. The decision to discontinue Sora reflects a belief that GPUs and researchers are better used elsewhere, particularly as compute demand grows3
.There's an open question about what this focus era means for OpenAI's research teams as the company competes with Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Meta for top-tier talent
3
. In January, OpenAI's VP of Research, Jerry Tworek, left after struggling to get resources for his next project3
. While many employees appear energized by the refocus, others may move to rival labs if their projects get deprioritized3
.Shift Toward Agentic AI and Workplace Tools
The latter half of 2025 focused on AI image and video tools, but 2026 is all about agentic AI that completes actual tasks, particularly in workplace settings
5
. Anthropic set off a race this year when its advanced Claude Code and Cowork tools proved AI could be a serious workplace tool, with the company's popularity and new user sign-ups rising5
. OpenAI released Codex to compete, and the product has become a bright spot for the company3
.For professionals and businesses watching the AI landscape, the message is clear: OpenAI is betting on tools that solve real-world problems rather than generating social media content. The company's willingness to shut down a high-profile consumer product signals discipline that investors will likely appreciate as OpenAI moves toward public markets. However, the abrupt end to the Disney partnership demonstrates the risks of announcing deals before they're finalized, and the challenges of building consumer social products that achieve lasting engagement in an increasingly crowded market.
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