OpenAI has launched its Sora video generator in the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. This expansion brings the AI tool, which creates videos from text descriptions, to a broader audience after its initial U.S. release in December.
Features and Capabilities
Sora can generate videos up to 1080p resolution with a maximum length of 20 seconds. The tool is available through two subscription tiers:
- ChatGPT Plus subscribers get 1,000 credits monthly and can create up to 50 priority videos at 720p (5 seconds) or 480p (10 seconds)
- ChatGPT Pro users receive 10,000 credits for up to 500 priority videos and unlimited relaxed videos at 1080p (up to 20 seconds)
To prevent misuse, OpenAI has added verification metadata and watermarks to videos. Plus subscribers’ downloads include a small watermark logo, while Pro users’ videos don’t have visible watermarks.
“I can sit in an office and do this with a computer, which is shocking to me,” said TV and film mogul Tyler Perry, who paused an $800 million studio expansion after seeing Sora’s capabilities.
Future Plans
Rohan Sahai, OpenAI’s product lead for Sora, confirmed several upcoming developments during a recent Discord session:
- Integration of Sora directly into the ChatGPT app
- Development of a new Sora Turbo version for faster video generation
- Creation of a Sora-powered AI image generator for more photorealistic images
- Potential release of a standalone mobile app
The company is already generating approximately 600 videos per minute worldwide through the platform.
Similar Posts
Industry Impact and Concerns
The expansion comes amid growing debate about AI’s effect on creative industries. David Jones, CEO of Brandtech Group, described the situation as a “tectonic disruption” for advertising and marketing, comparing it to a “Kodak moment” for the industry.
Major brands have begun adopting AI-generated content, with Coca-Cola producing an entirely AI-generated Christmas advertisement last year.
Creative professionals have raised concerns about copyright issues. This week in the UK, 1,000 musicians released a silent protest album, and prominent figures including Dua Lipa, Sir Tom Stoppard, and Sir Paul McCartney signed an open letter opposing government plans to allow AI firms to use copyrighted work without permission.
Award-winning filmmaker Beeban Kidron noted that Sora’s arrival adds “another layer of urgency” to the copyright debate.
User Experience
Sora features a user-friendly interface with:
- A storyboard tool for planning video sequences
- Various presets and templates
- Options to remix and blend videos
- Customizable aspect ratios, resolutions, and durations
Despite its capabilities, experts note Sora still struggles with realistic physics and complex actions over longer durations compared to competitors like Google’s Veo 2.
