Video generation models are not new. Artificial intelligence has been capable of creating realistic video content for some time, and consumer-grade tools are now readily available. Google and OpenAI have both released Veo and Sora text-to-video and image-to-video generative models in the past. So why is the technology now exploding with the release of OpenAI’s Sora app?
For those unfamiliar, Sora is OpenAI’s AI video generation app that combines a generator and a social platform in one. It was released in September for iOS and the web, and recently made its debut on Android. Even if you haven’t heard of Sora, you’ve probably seen the videos shared on different platforms like X and TikTok.
Veo 3 and Sora 2 are both ultra-realistic video generation models
AI video generation models such as Veo 3 and Sora 2 face an uphill battle. Creating a good and highly realistic video generator is not enough to be successful. Brands like Google and OpenAI need to create AI videos niceAnd I didn’t know if that was possible until the Sora app started.
By wrapping the Sora 2 model in a TikTok-like social feed and adding a human cameo, OpenAI seems to have changed the perception of AI content overnight. What was once vulgar and trash has become interesting and appealing. This has nothing to do with the model itself, but rather with the interface.
Sora, like Gemini, is both a model and an interface. Sora 2 is a video generation model that powers this experience, which OpenAI says is “more physically accurate, realistic, and easier to control than previous systems.” The company added that it believes Sora 2 “could be the GPT‑3.5 moment in video.”
This is very similar to Google’s claims regarding Veo 3.1, which was just released to the Gemini app in October. Google said Veo 3.1 will add “richer audio, more narrative control, and enhanced realism.” This is pretty similar to what OpenAI advertised about Sora 2 a month ago.
Why hasn’t Veo 3 skyrocketed in popularity like Sora 2? It’s because Google doesn’t have an app to tie everything together.
OpenAI’s Sora app turns AI video generation into a social platform
Google’s Veo 3 models are technically as capable as the Sora 2, but are often positioned more toward developers and businesses than the average consumer. Accessible through the Gemini app for Google AI Pro or Ultra subscribers, it powers photo-to-video generation in the Google Photos app. Even these implementations are something the user needs to look for and are not a major part of either app.
By comparison, Sora 2 is available at sora.com, but OpenAI also built an entire app around it. The company noted that vertical video and infinite scroll formats work on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. The company responded by making its Sora app a similar hub for AI-generated videos and a place where users can create their own videos.
At the core of the Sora experience is the Cameo feature, which allows users to create realistic AI videos of themselves or others. These will eventually be available for sharing with others via the Sora feed. The idea is to connect with friends on Sora, create and share AI cameos, and give everyone a TikTok-like feed of smart AI content.
Comparing Veo and Sora, we quickly realized that OpenAI’s Cameo approach immediately separates it from its competitors. While many video generators prevent you from creating AI video content about real people, OpenAI has made it the whole reason for Sora’s existence. There teeth Limits are put in place to prevent people from using Sora irresponsibly, but they end up feeling more like a detour than a complete failure.
Regarding how people can protect their likeness within Sora, OpenAI says:
Only you decide who is allowed to appear in a cameo, and you can revoke access or delete the video containing the cameo at any time. You can always watch videos that include your cameo, including drafts created by others.
OpenAI
Still, these limits are less restrictive than those found when using Veo 3 with Gemini. Naturally, people are always trying to find ways to get around them.
While testing Veo 3 and Sora, I had a hard time getting Gemini to create something realistic that involved real people and celebrities. Gemini says “that video cannot be produced” and links to its video policy guidelines. Oddly, there’s nothing specifically prohibiting generating videos of real people, but Gemini and Veo’s models are clearly trained for it.
This leaves Google and Veo 3 in a precarious position. Sora’s popularity proves that people crave realistic AI videos of real people.
Are Google’s strict policy guardrails holding back AI capabilities?
OpenAI’s focus on lifelike AI video stands in contrast to Google’s insistence on AI responsibility. I can’t say for sure why OpenAI is starting to veer off course, but after years of closely watching the AI industry, I have a theory. AI development has plateaued and OpenAI’s competitors are catching up.
Shortly after announcing Sora, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in October 2025 that ChatGPT would soon be allowed to participate in “verified adult erotica” (via AP). Altman added that OpenAI is “not the elected moral police of the world.”
These are individual decisions, but taken together they seem to indicate that OpenAI is systematically removing guardrails for its AI products. By providing Sora with AI videos of real people across the board, OpenAI created an instant hit. Veo, on the other hand, is still relatively unknown to the masses.
To me, AI video is still sloppy, whether it’s made by Veo or Sora. Who knows if OpenAI’s bet on Sora, Social, and Cameo will pay off? But for now, it’s hard to argue with the early results. The Sora app has already been downloaded millions of times on iOS and Android.
FAQ
What is Google Veo?
Veo is a text-to-video model developed by Google that allows users to create high-quality, realistic short video clips based on text prompts. Users can also use Veo to convert images to video, and a new version of the model allows audio generation.
What is OpenAI’s Sora?
Sora is an OpenAI video generator that allows users to create hyper-realistic videos from text and image prompts. It also allows users to insert themselves as “cameos” into videos and remix videos produced by other creators.
Who can access Google’s Veo 3 models?
Google’s latest Veo model is available through the Gemini app to anyone with a Google AI Pro plan or AI Ultra, which costs $19.99 and $249 per month, respectively.
How do I access OpenAI’s Sora?
The Sora app is available on iOS and Android and is free. However, ChatGPT Pro subscribers can get the better Sora 2 Pro model starting at $20 per month. Sora 2 Pro is available only on the web.
