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OpenAI ends Disney partnership as it closes Sora video-making app

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OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it is shutting down its Sora AI video app, less than two years after its launch in 2024, as the firm directs resources to other priorities to "help people solve real-world, physical tasks."

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it is shutting down its Sora AI video app, less than two years after its launch in 2024, as the firm directs resources to other priorities to "help people solve real-world, physical tasks."

The AI company unveiled the news on Sora's social media account, stating that it understood it was "disappointing," before promising to share additional details, including timelines for the app and API, as well as information on preserving users' work.

Sora

The AI company unveiled the news on Sora's social media account, stating that it understood it was "disappointing," before promising to share additional details, including timelines for the app and API, as well as information on preserving users' work.

In a statement to multiple media outlets, OpenAI added that the Sora team would shift its attention to other areas, principally robotics. The development comes as OpenAI focuses on a new AI model called Spud, as well as on consolidating the ChatGPT chatbot, coding tool and browser into a single application.

In a statement to multiple media outlets, OpenAI added that the Sora team would shift its attention to other areas, principally robotics. The development comes as OpenAI focuses on a new AI model called Spud, as well as on consolidating the ChatGPT chatbot, coding tool and browser into a single application.

The closure terminates a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/disney-openai-strike-b-deal-for-ai-character-videos">$1 billion agreement between OpenAI and Disney</a>, announced in December 2025, under which Disney planned to license more than 200 characters for use in the app. The deal never closed, however, and no money ever changed hands.

The closure terminates a $1 billion agreement between OpenAI and Disney, announced in December 2025, under which Disney planned to license more than 200 characters for use in the app. The deal never closed, however, and no money ever changed hands.

The decision, nevertheless, caught Disney off guard, with people familiar with the matter telling Reuters that Disney teams were working with OpenAI on a Sora-linked project on Monday evening, only to be informed 30 minutes later that OpenAI was discontinuing the tool.

The decision, nevertheless, caught Disney off guard, with people familiar with the matter telling Reuters that Disney teams were working with OpenAI on a Sora-linked project on Monday evening, only to be informed 30 minutes later that OpenAI was discontinuing the tool.

Sora's end follows criticism over its potential to generate deepfakes and nonconsensual images, as well as copyright infringement, which required OpenAI to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/openais-sora-faces-copyright-backlash-shifts-policy">add controls</a> after an outcry over AI-generated videos of public figures, including Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr.

Al Jazeera

Sora's end follows criticism over its potential to generate deepfakes and nonconsensual images, as well as copyright infringement, which required OpenAI to add controls after an outcry over AI-generated videos of public figures, including Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr.

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OpenAI announced it is shutting down its Sora AI video app, launched in September 2024, to redirect computing resources toward other priorities, including robotics and so-called agentic AI systems capable of completing tasks autonomously.

OpenAI announced it is shutting down its Sora AI video app, launched in September 2024, to redirect computing resources toward other priorities, including robotics and so-called agentic AI systems capable of completing tasks autonomously.

The closure ends a $1 billion agreement between OpenAI and Disney, announced roughly three months prior, under which Disney planned to license more than 200 characters for use in Sora. The deal never closed and no money changed hands.

The closure ends a $1 billion agreement between OpenAI and Disney, announced roughly three months prior, under which Disney planned to license more than 200 characters for use in Sora. The deal never closed and no money changed hands.

Disney said it "respect[s] OpenAI's decision to exit the video generation business," and added it would continue engaging with AI platforms to find ways to use the technology while protecting intellectual property and creators' rights.

Disney said it "respect[s] OpenAI's decision to exit the video generation business," and added it would continue engaging with AI platforms to find ways to use the technology while protecting intellectual property and creators' rights.

According to a person familiar with the matter, Disney teams were working with OpenAI on a Sora-linked project Monday evening, only to be informed 30 minutes later that OpenAI was discontinuing the tool — a move one source described as "a big rug-pull."

Al Jazeera #2885

According to a person familiar with the matter, Disney teams were working with OpenAI on a Sora-linked project Monday evening, only to be informed 30 minutes later that OpenAI was discontinuing the tool — a move one source described as "a big rug-pull."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the Sora team would shift focus to robotics and a new AI model called Spud. The company is also consolidating its ChatGPT chatbot, coding tool and browser into a single application.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the Sora team would shift focus to robotics and a new AI model called Spud. The company is also consolidating its ChatGPT chatbot, coding tool and browser into a single application.

The Sora app had faced criticism over the potential for generating deepfakes and nonconsensual images, and OpenAI was required to add controls after an outcry over AI-generated videos of public figures including Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr.

The Sora app had faced criticism over the potential for generating deepfakes and nonconsensual images, and OpenAI was required to add controls after an outcry over AI-generated videos of public figures including Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr.

Sora built a real creative community, and shutting it down is a genuine loss for the people who invested time and energy into it. The platform gave creators tools to make something meaningful, and that work deserves to be preserved. Killing Sora pulls the rug out from under a growing ecosystem that was just finding its footing.

Sora built a real creative community, and shutting it down is a genuine loss for the people who invested time and energy into it. The platform gave creators tools to make something meaningful, and that work deserves to be preserved. Killing Sora pulls the rug out from under a growing ecosystem that was just finding its footing.

Sora was AI video slop masquerading as creativity, and its shutdown is genuinely good news. It represented the worst impulses of the AI economy — flooding the internet with low-effort generated content that undercuts real human artistry. Good riddance to a platform that never should have existed in the first place.

Sora was AI video slop masquerading as creativity, and its shutdown is genuinely good news. It represented the worst impulses of the AI economy — flooding the internet with low-effort generated content that undercuts real human artistry. Good riddance to a platform that never should have existed in the first place.

Tom Warren

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI Shuts Down Sora, Killing $1B Disney Deal

Sora built a real, creative community, and shutting it down is undoubtedly disappointing news for the people who invested time and energy into it. The platform, however, will do its utmost to serve its users and provide them with the clarity they need moving forward, including information on how long the app and API will remain functional, and how to preserve their work.

Sora built a real, creative community, and shutting it down is undoubtedly disappointing news for the people who invested time and energy into it. The platform, however, will do its utmost to serve its users and provide them with the clarity they need moving forward, including information on how long the app and API will remain functional, and how to preserve their work.

Sora was an AI slop machine masquerading as creativity, and its shutdown could not have come any sooner. As a product, it represented the worst impulses of the AI economy — flooding the internet with low-effort generated content that undermined the contributions of real human artistry. Good riddance to a platform that never should have existed in the first place.

Sora was an AI slop machine masquerading as creativity, and its shutdown could not have come any sooner. As a product, it represented the worst impulses of the AI economy — flooding the internet with low-effort generated content that undermined the contributions of real human artistry. Good riddance to a platform that never should have existed in the first place.

AI will wholly create an original, critically-acclaimed feature film by May 19, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

AI will wholly create an original, critically-acclaimed feature film by May 19, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

OpenAI Shuts Down Sora, Killing $1B Disney Deal

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