OpenAI is shutting down Sora, a social app designed to compete with TikTok, which launched just six months ago. The company did not provide a reason for the closure or a timeline for discontinuation. Sora was initially introduced as an invite-only platform, but struggled to maintain user interest over time.
The app featured a vertical video feed and allowed users to create realistic deepfake videos of themselves through a feature that was ultimately renamed from “cameos” to “characters” following legal issues with the trademark owner Cameo. Despite initial buzz, user engagement declined sharply, with downloads plummeting from approximately 3.3 million at its peak to about 1.1 million within a few months.
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…
— Sora (@soraofficialapp) March 24, 2026
At launch, Sora faced significant moderation challenges, allowing users to create deepfakes of controversial figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Robin Williams. The platform’s relaxed content policies led to concerns about the proliferation of unauthorized deepfake content, prompting public requests from affected families to cease the creation of such videos. In response to emerging legal challenges, content creators shifted towards using copyrighted characters, including iconic figures from gaming and animation.
OpenAI had secured a $1 billion investment and licensing agreement with Disney for characters from its franchises to be included in Sora. However, the shutdown of Sora marks the end of this deal, and reports indicate that no funds were exchanged prior to its collapse.
Disney confirmed it will continue to explore opportunities with AI platforms despite the end of this collaboration. Throughout its operational period, Sora generated approximately $2.1 million from in-app purchases for video generation credits. However, the app’s decline in downloads and mounting liabilities likely contributed to OpenAI’s decision to terminate the service. Despite Sora’s exit, the underlying Sora 2 model remains accessible through the ChatGPT paywall, indicating potential continued development in AI-based video applications.
