Mumbai, March 25: OpenAI has officially announced the discontinuation of its standalone Sora application, a move that comes just six months after the platform’s high-profile debut. The company confirmed the decision via its official social media channels on Tuesday, thanking the community of creators while acknowledging that the news would likely disappoint many active users.

The app, which functioned as an AI-driven social video feed similar to TikTok, allowed users to generate and share short-form video content. While the underlying Sora 2 model remains highly regarded for its technical capabilities, the standalone social experiment struggled to maintain long-term user engagement. OpenAI Sora Now Allows Users To Create Images Using AI With Text Prompt, Offers Access to AI Generated Images in Interface.

OpenAI Sora App Discontinued

OpenAI Sora Declining Downloads and Operational Challenges

Despite an initial surge of interest that saw Sora peak at approximately 3.3 million downloads in November 2025, the platform experienced a sharp decline in 2026. Data from mobile intelligence firm Appfigures indicates that downloads dropped to roughly 1.1 million by February.

While the app generated an estimated USD 2.1 million from in-app purchases for video credits, these figures pale in comparison to the massive scale of OpenAI’s flagship product, ChatGPT, which currently boasts 900 million weekly active users. Industry analysts suggest the high computing costs and moderating liabilities of a video-first social network may have outweighed the benefits of keeping the app operational.

Sora Controversy Surrounding "Characters" and Deepfakes

The app’s short lifespan was marked by significant controversy, particularly regarding its "Characters" feature (formerly "Cameos"). The tool allowed users to scan their faces to create realistic digital clones, which led to a surge in deepfake content.

OpenAI faced criticism after users bypassed safety guardrails to generate unauthorised videos of public figures and deceased celebrities. This prompted public outcries from the families of high-profile individuals. Additionally, the platform became a hub for content featuring copyrighted characters, leading to complicated legal and licensing discussions with major media entities.

OpenAI Sora Shutdown: Impact on the Disney Licensing Agreement

The shutdown appears to have voided a landmark licensing deal with Disney. Previously, it was reported that Disney had considered a USD 1 billion investment and licensing partnership that would have allowed Sora users to legally generate content featuring Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters.

Following the announcement of the app's closure, Disney indicated that no funds had actually changed hands and stated it would continue to engage with various AI platforms for future opportunities.

Future Access and Existing Creations

OpenAI has stated that further information regarding the exact timeline for the app and API shutdown will be released shortly. The company also intends to provide options for users to preserve the videos they have al ready created within the platform. OpenAI Sora 2 Launched With Sound to Take On Google Veo 3, Offers Realistic Video Generation and Major Improvements; Sora App Also Released (Watch Videos).

While the standalone app is being retired, the technology itself is not disappearing. The Sora 2 generation model remains accessible to subscribers through the ChatGPT interface, shifting OpenAI’s focus back toward integrated productivity tools rather than a consumer-facing social media platform.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 25, 2026 07:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).