OpenAI Launches AI Video Generator Sora for Public Use in the US

OpenAI has released its AI video generator, Sora, to the public in the US, as announced on Monday. Initially launched in February, Sora was previously accessible only to a select group of artists, filmmakers, and safety testers. However, due to high demand, new sign-ups were occasionally unavailable.

Sora is a text-to-video tool that creates AI-generated video clips based on user prompts. For instance, the prompt "a wide, serene shot of a family of woolly mammoths in an open desert" produces a video showing three extinct creatures walking through sand dunes. OpenAI aims for this early version of Sora to inspire creativity and expand the possibilities of video storytelling.

Known for its popular chatbot ChatGPT, OpenAI is expanding into various forms of generative AI, including a voice-cloning tool and image generation with Dall-E, which is now integrated into ChatGPT. The Microsoft-backed company is a leader in the AI market, valued at nearly $160 billion.

Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee tested Sora before its public release, describing the results as both "horrifying and inspiring." While the tool excels at creating landscapes and stylistic effects, it struggles with realistic physics and can produce visual defects. OpenAI is also working on ensuring compliance with online safety regulations in the UK and EU.

Two weeks ago, OpenAI temporarily suspended access to Sora after a group of artists created a backdoor, allowing unauthorized use. The artists accused OpenAI of "art washing" and warned that the tool could threaten their livelihoods. Generative AI, while improving, is still prone to issues like hallucinations, plagiarism, and unrealistic images.

Critics caution that AI video technology could be misused for disinformation, scams, and deepfakes. To mitigate abuse, OpenAI has blocked uploads of specific individuals and content with nudity, as well as preventing particularly harmful material such as child sexual abuse imagery and sexual deepfakes.

Initially, Sora will be available to existing paying subscribers of OpenAI's tools, with access extended to users in the US and most international countries, excluding the UK and Europe.