OpenAI sensationally shut down its Sora video generation app, turning its back on Sam Altman, the technology founder who just six months ago dubbed it “ChatGPT for creativity.”
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And Disney reportedly cut its US$1 billion (A$1.43 billion) investment commitment to OpenAI, and plans to license classic characters through the app came to a screeching halt.
“We are saying goodbye to the Sora app,” the Sora team said in a statement shared with X on Wednesday.
“Thank you to everyone who created on Sora, shared it, and built a community around it.
“What you made with Sora was important, and we know this news is disappointing.”
OpenAI did not give a reason for shutting down its standalone app, which creates short videos from written instructions and replaces the work of traditional production staff and creatives.
The AI company unveiled its Sora app last October, leveraging an AI model that Altman said has the potential to “significantly improve” the quality of arts and entertainment.
“Many of us are surprised at how open the playing field suddenly feels,” Altman wrote on his blog, noting Sola’s “surprisingly convincing” ability to generate videos based on images of friends and family.
However, Sora’s ability to emulate other copyrighted characters posed a threat to rights holders who were concerned that their work would be used gratuitously to create AI “slops”.
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Altman immediately declared that Sora would give rights holders more control over how their characters and intellectual property were used.
He also pointed out that it costs a lot to keep Sora running, saying, “We’re going to have to make money somehow to generate the videos.”
Altman proposed a future where Sora users could generate and monetize content using existing IP, with entertainment companies offering access to classic characters in exchange for a portion of the revenue generated by fans.
“We’re going to try to distribute some of this revenue to rights holders who want user-generated characters,” he said.
“Finding the exact model will require some trial and error, but we plan to start soon.”
Just two months later, The Walt Disney Company announced an equity investment in OpenAI and a three-year licensing agreement that will allow Sora users to create content using select Disney characters.
Disney also became a major customer for OpenAI’s other products, including the API and ChatGPT itself.
At the time, Disney CEO Robert Iger said the deal would “expand the scope of storytelling through generative AI while respecting and protecting creators and their work.”
hollywood reporter He says the plan is no more.
“As the nascent field of AI advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and shift its priorities elsewhere,” a Disney spokesperson told the publication.
Despite Sola’s departure, a spokesperson said Disney will continue to explore opportunities to “work with AI platforms to find new ways to engage with fans,” and noted the importance of “technology that respects intellectual property and creator rights.”
