OpenAI has announced it is shutting down its AI video generator Sora, just six months after launching a standalone app that allowed users to create and share hyper-realistic videos in a social-style feed.
In a post on X, the company said it was “saying goodbye” to Sora, thanking users who created and shared content on the platform. “What you made with Sora mattered, and we know this news is disappointing,” it added.
Sora was first made publicly available in late 2024, but it gained widespread attention following the release of Sora 2 and its standalone app last September. Within days of launch, the app climbed to the top of the Apple App Store rankings, as users experimented with viral and often surreal videos — from historical figures performing stunts to animals behaving like humans.
However, the platform also drew criticism for hosting problematic content, including violent and racist videos, deepfakes, and the use of copyrighted characters.
Alon Yamin, CEO of Copyleaks, described Sora as “a content moderation nightmare,” warning that the broader issue of misinformation will persist even after its shutdown. He noted that harmful deepfakes are likely to shift to other platforms that may be harder to monitor and regulate.
The closure comes as a surprise, as OpenAI had only recently outlined efforts to improve safety on the platform. In a blog post published just days earlier, the company detailed new measures aimed at protecting users — particularly younger audiences — including stronger safeguards against harmful content such as explicit material, extremist propaganda and self-harm-related media.
