Osmond ChiaEconomic journalist
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.
OpenAI told the BBC on Wednesday that it had abandoned Sora so it could focus on other developments, such as robotics “that will help people solve real-world physical tasks.”
A spokesperson for The Walt Disney Company said “we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and shift its priorities elsewhere.”
Disney will work with other AI platforms to find ways to use the technology responsibly without infringing on intellectual property rights, a spokesperson said.
OpenAI announced the closure of its consumer application Sora and the Internet platform that professionals install to generate videos.
The BBC understands that with the closure of Sora, OpenAI will no longer focus on developing video generation tools.
The company said it aims to create other forms of advanced AI, including “agentic” technology that can complete tasks autonomously with little human oversight.
OpenAI plans to apply the same technology used to teach AI how to produce realistic videos to train robots.
The imaging tools on ChatGPT were not affected by Sora’s shutdown, OpenAI said.
Sora launched in 2024 with huge interest worldwide thanks to the high quality of its AI-generated videos it looked like a professional studio produced them.
But the app has also raised concerns about copyright violations and the threat it poses to the media industry.
In December, Disney became the first major studio to license intellectual property (IP) to OpenAI for use in its AI video tools.
The three-year deal allowed Sora users to create AI videos with Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Yoda from Star Wars.
The deal was seen as a turning point for the tech industry and Hollywood, coming after major studios launched lawsuits against AI companies over use of their intellectual property.
Some in the media industry have also expressed concerns that the deal would mark a major step toward replacing entertainment industry talent with AI.
Sora has also faced a growing number of competitors in the AI video creation market. This list includes The sowing of Chinawhich created controversy in February after realistic videos featuring Hollywood characters generated using the app went viral online.