OpenAI closes Sora video generator app and exits Disney content deal to prioritise robotics and advanced agentic technologies.
OpenAI has shut down its artificial intelligence video generation app Sora less than 2 years after its launch drew global attention for creating realistic clips from simple prompts.
The company is also ending its content partnership with entertainment giant Disney as it shifts focus to other areas of AI development.
OpenAI told the BBC on Wednesday that it has discontinued Sora in order to prioritise robotics innovation “that will help people solve real-world, physical tasks.”
A spokesperson for The Walt Disney Company said “we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere”.
The spokesperson added that Disney will work with other AI platforms to explore ways of responsibly using the technology without infringing intellectual property rights.
OpenAI confirmed it is closing both the Sora consumer app and the internet based platform used by professional creators to generate videos.
With the shutdown, the company will no longer prioritise the development of video generation tools, instead aiming to build advanced AI systems including “agentic” technology capable of autonomously completing tasks with limited human oversight.
OpenAI also plans to apply the same technology used to train AI video models to the development of robotics.
The company said image generation tools within ChatGPT remain unaffected by Sora’s closure.
Sora launched in 2024 to significant global interest because of the high quality of its AI generated videos, many of which appeared similar to content produced by professional studios.
However, the app also triggered concerns about copyright risks and its potential impact on the media and entertainment industries.
In December, Disney became the first major studio to license intellectual property to OpenAI for use in AI video tools.
The 3 year agreement allowed users to create AI generated videos featuring Disney characters including Mickey Mouse and Yoda from Star Wars.
The partnership was widely seen as a major moment for both the technology sector and Hollywood following legal disputes between major studios and AI companies over intellectual property use.
Some media industry stakeholders also warned the deal could accelerate fears about AI replacing creative professionals.
Sora faced rising competition in the AI video generation market, including China’s Seedance, which sparked controversy in February after realistic videos featuring Hollywood characters generated by the platform circulated widely online.
