OpenAI video app Sora reportedly smashes ChatGPT’s record

OpenAI’s new text-to-video app, Sora, has become the company’s fastest-growing product ever, surpassing ChatGPT’s launch record by hitting over one million downloads in only five days.

The app, which was released publicly for ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro users in December 2024, currently tops the Apple App Store charts in the US.

The AI tool allows users to generate 10-second hyper-realistic videos from simple text prompts.

According to Sora’s head, Bill Peebles, the “surging growth” is especially remarkable given that access is limited to invite-only users in North America.

Despite its viral success, Sora’s rollout has faced controversy over its handling of copyrighted material and depictions of deceased public figures.

The app’s social sharing feature has fueled a flood of AI-generated clips online, including unsettling recreations of late celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur.

However, the backlash intensified after Zelda Williams, daughter of the late American actor and comedian Robin Williams, urged people to stop circulating AI videos mimicking her father, calling them “disturbing and exploitative.”

In response, an OpenAI spokesperson said that there are “strong free speech interests” in allowing the depiction of historical figures.

However, they clarified that for recently deceased individuals, authorised representatives could request removal of their likenesses, though the company has not defined what qualifies as “recent.”