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 shared through a social feed.
Sora shutdown and concerns
Despite its rapid rise, Sora faced criticism over content-related issues, including deepfakes, use of copyrighted characters, and the spread of violent or racially sensitive material.
The shutdown also raises questions about a recently signed three-year agreement between OpenAI and The Walt Disney Company, which allowed access to more than 200 licensed characters from franchises such as Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars.
Safety updates and new features
The decision comes shortly after OpenAI outlined safety improvements in a blog post, detailing stricter safeguards for teens and tighter controls on harmful content categories.
Notably, the company had also introduced new editing features, including options to cut, extend, remix, and refine videos within a timeline-based interface, with support rolling out on iOS and web, and Android planned.
What’s next
OpenAI said it will soon share more details on the shutdown timeline for both the Sora app and its API, along with guidance on how users can preserve their existing work.
In its post, the Sora team thanked users for creating and sharing content on the platform, acknowledging that the decision may be disappointing and confirming that further updates will follow.