OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has launched the AI video generator Sora for paying customers, marking its public debut.
While OpenAI isn’t the first to develop an AI that creates videos from text prompts, Sora, much like ChatGPT, is poised to bring this technology to a vast audience of millions.
The implications of this are significant. OpenAI suggests this could spark a surge in creative output. However, many in the professional video industry contend that it could also infringe upon the rights of numerous creators.
Sora’s initial beta release in February generated a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Following this, OpenAI announced plans for extensive testing. This included collaboration with creative professionals and security evaluations by “red-team” experts, all before Sora’s public launch.
During a live-streamed announcement on Monday, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, emphasized the company’s broader vision. “We don’t want the world to just be text,” he stated, adding, “[Video] is important to our culture.”
In a separate statement, OpenAI revealed that the newest version of Sora is “significantly faster” than the earlier preview. This updated Sora will be a standalone product for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users.
The tool can create videos up to 20 seconds long. OpenAI’s Sora team clarified that the focus isn’t on “generating feature-length movies.” Instead, they see it as a platform for experimenting with new concepts.
OpenAI openly acknowledges Sora’s current shortcomings. “It often generates unrealistic physics and struggles with complex actions over long durations,” the company noted in a blog post.
This updated version introduces several new features, including the ability to use images as prompts and a timeline editor for precise video control.
While OpenAI is excited to make Sora widely available, it acknowledges the potential for misuse. The company plans to start with conservative moderation policies but is open to user feedback to refine its approach. To mitigate privacy concerns, people’s image uploads will be limited initially.
Sora will be accessible globally, except in Europe and the UK due to stricter privacy regulations.
