OpenAI introduced the first version of Sora—a text-to-video model paired with a social media application—to the public on December 15, 2024. The launch was available to ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the United States and Canada.
This release represented a notable step forward in artificial intelligence, as Sora could produce short video clips from written prompts and also extend existing short videos. The public rollout followed an earlier preview in February 2024, when OpenAI first showed examples of Sora’s output. By default, the model incorporated copyrighted material into its generated videos unless copyright holders specifically chose to opt out.
To address potential misuse, each video included a visible, moving digital watermark. However, that safeguard proved temporary; within a week of Sora 2’s release, third-party tools appeared that could remove the watermark.
A second generation of Sora, known as Sora 2, reached a limited group of users in the United States and Canada at the end of September 2025. This update added social media features to the app, giving users new ways to interact with the model. The release demonstrated OpenAI’s ongoing efforts to refine and broaden the capabilities of its technology. Despite these developments, OpenAI shut down the Sora app on April 26, 2026.
That closure marked the start of the end for the entire Sora AI brand. Additionally, the company plans to discontinue the application programming interface (API) on September 24, 2026, which will effectively conclude the Sora project entirely.
The shutdown and planned API discontinuation raise questions about the future of text-to-video models and the difficulties involved in creating and sustaining such technology. Sora’s journey highlights the fast pace of progress in artificial intelligence. The ability to generate short videos from prompts and lengthen existing clips carries significant implications for fields ranging from entertainment to education.
As the technology advances, addressing issues related to copyright and misuse, as well as considering the broader impact on industries and society, remains important. Looking forward, the end of Sora and its API will likely influence the development of future text-to-video models.
The lessons learned from this project may guide the creation of subsequent systems, particularly in handling copyright and preventing misuse. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, observing new innovations in this area will be key. The story of Sora underscores the rapid innovation occurring in AI, and staying informed about emerging technologies and their potential effects will help in understanding both the opportunities and challenges ahead.
