OpenAI has officially shut down its Sora app, a move that coincides with Disney’s decision to withdraw its planned $1 billion investment in the AI company. While the specific reasons for the app’s closure have not been disclosed, the decision has raised questions, especially given the agreement previously signed last December.
The deal between Disney and OpenAI involved the use of Sora and ChatGPT to recreate characters and stories from Pixar and Star Wars franchises, with a significant investment from Disney. However, Disney has now confirmed the withdrawal of this financial commitment. A Disney spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter: “Given the rapid progress made by the emerging artificial intelligence sector, we respect OpenAI’s decision to abandon the video generation sector and focus its priorities elsewhere.”
It’s important to note that this closure pertains to the standalone Sora app. The underlying video generation tools might still be integrated or used within other OpenAI platforms, such as ChatGPT, with references to such integration already having emerged.
One potential reason behind OpenAI’s decision could be related to high operational costs. Previous reports indicated that AI video generation could incur expenses of up to $15 million per day for OpenAI, projecting a potential annual cost of over $5 billion. Bill Peebles, head of Sora, had previously expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of such costs.