OpenAI Shuts Down Sora App After Deepfake Concerns

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San Francisco: OpenAI has announced it is shutting down its social media app Sora, months after the platform went viral for enabling users to create and share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence.

The company confirmed the move in a brief social media statement on Tuesday, saying it was ‘saying goodbye to the Sora app’ and would soon provide details on how users can preserve their existing content.

Launched in September, Sora was positioned as a competitor to platforms like TikTok and Instagram, aiming to capture audiences drawn to short-form video content and related advertising revenue.

However, the app quickly drew criticism from across the entertainment industry, with concerns mounting over its ability to generate realistic AI videos of public figures without consent. Digitally recreated versions of personalities such as Fred Rogers, Tupac Shakur, and Robin Williams circulated widely on the platform.

Advocacy groups, academics and industry experts warned that the technology could fuel the spread of deepfakes and non-consensual content, raising ethical and legal concerns.

OpenAI later imposed restrictions on content involving prominent figures, including Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr., following backlash from families and industry bodies. Some estates criticised the platform for allowing offensive or misleading portrayals.

The controversy also drew responses from major industry players. The Walt Disney Company, which had partnered with OpenAI to explore the use of its characters on Sora, said it respected the decision to shut down the app and shift focus elsewhere.

OpenAI has not yet outlined its next steps in the video generation space, but the move signals a retreat from a rapidly evolving and increasingly scrutinised segment of AI-driven media.