OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chat service ChatGPT, launched a new AI video generation model called ‘Sora 2’ with a new app on iOS back in September of 2025. Access to the platform was initially invite-only when it launched, and had no limits to video creation.
During launch, Sora 2 was only available in the U.S. and Canada, but expanded to more regions, such as Japan and Korea, in October of 2025, along with an Android App that launched in November of 2025. The app required users to do a facial scan as well as record their own audio for the best video results. Moreover, the app had some characteristics of a social media platform, where you could share your creations and follow other users. It could also make your ‘Cameo’ public if you wanted others to create content with it.
Even though the technology behind it is commendable, OpenAI is shutting down Sora as announced in a new post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“We’re saying goodbye to the Sora app. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you. What you made with Sora mattered, and we know this news is disappointing. We’ll share more soon, including timelines for the app and API and details on preserving your work. – The Sora Team”
This is an unexpected move by OpenAI, since they disabled the use of Sora 1 in the United States on March 13, 2026, with the default being Sora 2, indicating future plans for the second version. In the FAQ section, OpenAI mentions, “Why is Sora 1 being deprecated?Sora 1 relies on older models and infrastructure. Moving to a single Sora experience reduces complexity and allows continued improvements in Sora 2 across web and mobile.“
Due to this shutdown, the $1 Billion investment and three-year licensing agreement with The Walt Disney Company also stands cancelled, where users would have been able to create videos with Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters. In a statement to Variety, a Disney representative said, “As the nascent AI field advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere. We appreciate the constructive collaboration between our teams and what we 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 the rights of creators.”
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