OpenAI Shuts Down Sora Video App, Ends Disney Partnership
OpenAI has discontinued its AI video-generation platform Sora, less than two years after its high-profile launch, as the company shifts focus to other areas of artificial intelligence.
The move also brings an end to OpenAI’s content partnership with The Walt Disney Company, which had allowed users to create AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters under a licensing agreement.
OpenAI said the decision to shut down Sora was driven by a strategic pivot toward developing advanced technologies, including robotics and “agentic” AI systems capable of performing tasks with minimal human input.
Disney confirmed it respects the decision and indicated it will explore collaborations with other AI platforms, with a focus on safeguarding intellectual property rights.
Launched in 2024, Sora attracted global attention for its ability to generate highly realistic videos from simple text prompts. However, it also raised concerns within the media industry over copyright issues and the potential disruption of traditional content creation.
The partnership between OpenAI and Disney had been seen as a landmark moment, signalling a new phase of cooperation between Hollywood studios and AI developers after earlier legal tensions over content use.
With Sora now discontinued, OpenAI said it will no longer prioritise video-generation tools, instead applying similar underlying technology to areas such as robotics.
The company noted that its image-generation features within ChatGPT will continue to operate unaffected.
The closure comes amid increasing competition in the AI video space, as well as ongoing debates about the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries.
