OpenAI Launches AI Video App Sora
OpenAI is unveiling a new app called Sora, designed for generating and sharing AI videos drawn from copyrighted material to social media-like platforms.
Company officials explained that copyright holders, including film and television studios, can choose to opt out if they don’t want their content featured in Sora’s video feed. This approach follows a similar policy to what OpenAI previously implemented with image generation.
This copyright model is likely to spark some controversy in Hollywood.
In recent discussions, OpenAI has been reaching out to various copyright holders. Notably, at least one major player, Disney, has already opted out from having its content presented in this app.
This year, OpenAI urged the Trump administration to affirm that using copyrighted material for training AI models qualifies as “fair use” under copyright law.
In March, OpenAI made the case that applying the fair use doctrine to AI isn’t just about competition—it’s also crucial for national security.
The concern was that without this clarity, U.S. AI companies might fall behind competitors in China.
To address privacy concerns, OpenAI has implemented measures to prevent users from creating videos featuring public figures or other app users without their consent. Likenesses of public figures can only be used after they upload their own AI-generated content and give permission.
One of the measures is a “liveness check,” which requires users to move their heads in different directions and recite a random sequence of numbers. Users will also have the opportunity to preview drafts that include their likeness.
The videos generated within the Sora app can last up to 10 seconds. A feature called Cameo allows users to create lifelike AI versions of themselves to insert into various AI-generated scenarios.
Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak mentioned that the Sora app represents a direct competitor to well-established social media and digital content platforms such as those from Meta, Google, and TikTok, emphasizing that companies are vying for user attention and reshaping consumer habits.
