These days, when you see the words “AI” in the headline of an entertainment outlet’s website, it usually means something depressing is in store. But we actually have some AI-related news, so stick with us here. It’s not all doom and gloom that brings change. First, as you may have already seen on social media, OpenAI’s controversial AI video generation app Sora is being shut down. Second, per THRThe fallout from Sora’s downfall is that Disney is terminating a $1 billion deal it signed with OpenAI last year to invest in Sora for content production and license House of Mouse masks, animation, and non-human characters, according to a report.
Initially, Sora was released in December 2024 as a bonus for ChatGPT Pro and Plus users, but it really gained prominence in late September of last year with the release of Sora 2 and associated iOS/Android apps. Within days of its launch, the generative AI platform’s content flooded social media with plagiarized content featuring well-known figures and intellectual property. This has led OpenAI to quickly reverse some of the most alarming potential infringements and return greater control of intellectual property and publicity rights to rights holders. Six months later, Sora is no more (at least not soon). “We say goodbye to Sora,” a statement on the app’s social channels reads. “To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built a community around it. Thank you. What you created with Sora mattered. We know this news is disappointing.”
In response to the shocking announcement of the end of Sora, a Disney spokesperson said: “As the nascent AI field advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and shift priorities to other areas. We appreciate the constructive collaboration between our teams and what we have learned from it, and we will continue to engage with AI platforms to find new ways to meet fans where they are, while responsibly embracing new technologies that respect IP and creator rights.”
But with all of the above, some people will definitely see today’s news, and you probably will. I don’t This isn’t the end of having Darth Vader fight Mickey Mouse and Rocket Raccoon providing live commentary as a small victory for human creativity and artists around the world – not by a long chalk. OpenAI teeth Continued support for video generation on ChatGPT platform and Disney teeth The company is still committed to “continuing its engagement with AI platforms.” The future of film, and for that matter television, remains in peril. But at least we’ve had some less depressing news about AI in our beloved world of movies and TV, right?
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