OpenAI Debuts Sora 2 Video Generation App & New TikTok Competitor

A new generation of AI slop is about to be unleashed, as OpenAI has just debuted the Sora 2 video and audio generation app, which represents a significant improvement over last year’s Sora. Along with it, the company has also launched its new social media app for AI-generated content, where users can upload their creations in a TikTok-like vertical feed.

While we haven’t gotten access to test the Sora 2 model just yet, the demos OpenAI shared were actually good. Sora 2 is much better at handling physics, and since it can now generate audio as well, it adds a whole new dimension to the realism. In the examples OpenAI shared on X, the video quality was generally good, except when it was a shot of someone talking to the camera. That’s when the lack of a soul in their eyes was apparent.

The company has also addressed instances where prior models would morph the reality to better suit the prompt. “Now, if a basketball player misses a shot, the ball may spontaneously teleport to the hoop. In Sora 2, if a basketball player misses a shot, it will rebound off the backboard,” wrote OpenAI in a recent blog post.

The Social Media App

Besides uploading AI-generated videos, the main highlight of the Sora social media app is cameos. With this feature, users can scan their face data from an iPhone, upload it, and then jump right into a video scene. For example, you could be flying on Toothless from the “How to Train Your Dragon” movie, or picture yourself talking with Optimus Prime. The possibilities are endless.

The Cameos feature also allows users to share their face data with friends or family to create videos together. Once created, you can share the videos on a vertical TikTok-style feed for others to see. OpenAI says that its algorithm uses a person’s past activity, location, and even their ChatGPT history to determine the content of their feed. Fortunately, there are parental controls that allow parents to turn off algorithmic content and manage who can message their children. However, there are some real questions about user privacy. OpenAI hasn’t had the best track record, and uploading your face data could be a big risk.

The Sora app is already available for iOS users in the US and Canada. Rollout to different countries is expected to follow soon after. The app will be free to use for anyone. OpenAI plans to charge money only when users need to generate more videos during high-traffic times. The social media app, however, is currently invite-only.