OpenAI is discontinuing the Sora AI video app, which was launched in February 2024 and quickly gained traction, reaching one million downloads in less than five days. The decision comes as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy by the company, valued at $730 billion.
Sora allowed users to generate and remix short videos, capturing the attention of many creators. However, the app’s popularity waned over time, leading to criticism regarding the quality of the videos produced, with some users reporting low-quality or deceptive content.
In December 2025, Disney announced a licensing deal with OpenAI for Sora, indicating a significant partnership that many hoped would enhance the app’s offerings. However, despite this collaboration, OpenAI expressed gratitude to Sora users in a recent social media post, acknowledging the community built around the app.
OpenAI’s decision to discontinue Sora was confirmed in a statement where they said, “We’re saying goodbye to Sora. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you.” The company also noted, “We know this news is disappointing,” as they pivot towards high-productivity use cases.
The release of Sora 2 in September 2025 was an attempt to revitalize interest in the app, but it appears that the efforts were not enough to sustain its user base. As the app is phased out, it remains unclear what will happen to the core Sora model after the discontinuation.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the future of the technology behind Sora, leaving users and industry observers in anticipation of OpenAI’s next steps. The discontinuation marks a significant shift in OpenAI’s approach to consumer applications, as the company refocuses its resources.
