Good news for TikTok users!
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has launched a new video generation model. This model is part of the “SORA” app for iOS, which allows users to create videos simply from text prompts. You can even incorporate your own likeness or that of friends in customizable SORA feed videos.
Co-founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman in 2015, OpenAI saw Musk leave the company in 2018 after some conflicts with Altman and other leaders. Since then, their relationship has been quite contentious.
“Cameo” features let users lend their likenesses to others.
Sora 2 is here. pic.twitter.com/hy95wdm5nb
– OpenAI (@openai) September 30, 2025
You might feel a bit apprehensive about SORA’s possibilities. I mean, it’s only natural to have concerns, right?
OpenAI acknowledges these worries. They aim to address potential issues like “doomscrolling, addiction, isolation,” and they’re aware that feeds filled with low-quality content can be disheartening.
Reinforcement learning is a key component here, meaning AI tends to repeat actions that receive rewards and avoid those that don’t. OpenAI assures users that “tools and options” will be available to regulate what appears in their feeds.
There’s even a focus on tailoring feeds to suit individual consumers, which sounds nice, but it does raise some eyebrows.
OpenAI claims, “Protecting teenage happiness is important to us.” They’re imposing limits on the number of content generations teens can access daily and are also implementing stricter permissions for cameo appearances from young users.
However, no technology comes without its drawbacks.
Reflecting on past discussions like Socrates’ in Plato’s “Phaedrus,” one could argue that writing—much like technology—might lead to forgetfulness, as it provides reminders rather than relying on personal memory practices.
For many, the trade-off may be worthwhile. After all, with AI-generated content, the creative possibilities are only limited by one’s imagination (and OpenAI’s content guidelines).
This is a SORA app with SORA 2. Within the app, you can create, remix and take yourself and friends into the scene via cameo in a custom feed designed solely for SORA videos.
See inside SoraApp👇 pic.twitter.com/gxzxdnzmyg
– OpenAI (@openai) September 30, 2025
On the flip side, OpenAI mentioned risks like “doomscrolling, addiction, isolation.” These are already present in short-form videos that aren’t AI-generated. One wonders if tailored videos will further entrain viewers in a trance-like state, possibly leading to unforeseen consequences.
There’s also a concern that some might misuse SORA for inappropriate content. If moderation policies aren’t robust enough, it’s easy to envision another app emerging to fulfill those desires, perhaps even resulting in a generation of people retreating to artificial relationships.
Consider how quickly AI tech evolves. Just a couple of years back, a video generation model struggled with simple tasks, but now SORA 2 can create impressively realistic portrayals.
Overall, AI-generated videos are still evolving, and your experience with this new content might not be immediate.
