- OpenAI’s long-anticipated Sora iOS app has officially launched, powered by the upgraded Sora 2 model.
- The app combines AI video generation with a TikTok-like feed, centering on creation, remixing, and social interaction.
- Cameo features let users insert their likeness into AI-generated videos with full consent controls.
- OpenAI emphasizes creativity over consumption, promising safer feed mechanics and parental controls for teens.
- The rollout is invite-only in the U.S. and Canada, with plans for expansion and limited monetization tied to compute demand.
OpenAI unveils its most advanced video model yet, packaged inside a feed-driven app built for viral content creation.
The long-anticipated new social app from OpenAI is finally here. Sora, now available on iOS, represents the company’s most direct push into consumer-facing entertainment. Built on the Sora 2 model, it promises unprecedented realism in AI-generated video while introducing a TikTok-style feed to showcase and share creations.
Sora 2 is here. pic.twitter.com/hy95wDM5nB
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) September 30, 2025
Unlike traditional short-form platforms, Sora doesn’t allow user-uploaded footage. Every clip is AI-generated, meaning the feed is filled entirely with original, machine-created content. With this design, OpenAI isn’t simply competing with TikTok, Meta, or YouTube; it is attempting to redefine the mechanics of short-form video itself.
The Power of Sora 2
Sora 2 is the technical backbone of the new app, representing a major leap forward in video AI. It can simulate real-world physics more accurately than previous models, producing content that respects motion, balance, and environmental interactions. It also synchronizes dialogue and sound effects, enabling richer and more immersive creations.
@openai This is Sora 2, our most advanced video generation model yet that puts vivid, expressive creation into everyone’s hands. Sora 2 can do things that are exceptionally difficult for prior video generation models. It’s more physically accurate and realistic than prior systems and a big leap forward in controllability. And it also comes with synchronized audio. Sora 2 can be accessed via the Sora iOS app. It’s available to download now but access is invite-only. You can sign up in-app for a push notification when access opens for your account. We’re starting the initial rollout in the U.S. and Canada today with the intent to quickly expand to additional countries. We are prioritizing ChatGPT Pro users for app access, but don’t have an exact timeline. We’re aiming to ramp up as quickly as we safely can.
OpenAI describes this as a critical step toward building general-purpose world simulators. While such capabilities point toward long-term applications in robotics and training, their debut inside a consumer social app signals OpenAI’s strategy to capture attention through entertainment first.
Building a Social Layer Around AI Video
The real differentiator is not just realism—it’s social integration. With Sora, OpenAI is embracing the network effects that made TikTok dominant. Users generate 10-second videos, share them in a customizable feed, and remix each other’s outputs.
@openai Introducing the Sora app, powered by Sora 2. Inside the app, you can create, remix, and bring yourself or your friends into the scene through cameos—all within a customizable feed designed just for Sora videos. The Sora iOS app is available to download now but access is invite-only. You can sign up in-app for a push notification when access opens for your account. We’re starting the initial rollout in the U.S. and Canada today with the intent to quickly expand to additional countries. Download now to join the waitlist. 🔗: https://openai.com/sora/
The standout feature is “cameos”, which allows users to insert their likeness into AI-generated scenes. After a one-time video-and-audio verification, users can control where their cameo appears, revoke permissions, and decide who can include them in their content. OpenAI argues this gives people new ways to communicate and connect through shared creations rather than passive scrolling.
“We think a social app built around this ‘cameos’ feature is the best way to experience the magic of Sora 2,”
OpenAI explained in its launch announcement.
Safety, Consent, and Wellbeing
OpenAI is positioning Sora as a healthier alternative to today’s engagement-driven social platforms. Instead of maximizing watch time, the feed prioritizes content from people users follow and videos likely to inspire their own creations. Users can directly instruct the recommendation system using natural language, providing greater transparency and control.
Teen users face strict limits on daily feed access and cameo permissions, while parents can manage personalization and messaging settings via ChatGPT-linked parental controls. OpenAI also highlights extensive moderation systems combining automation with human review.
The emphasis on consent is particularly strong: all cameo appearances are user-controlled, and non-consensual videos can be revoked immediately.
Competing in a Crowded Market
Sora’s launch doesn’t occur in isolation. Just days before, Meta rolled out Vibes, its own AI-first short-form video feed, while Google continues to expand Veo integration into YouTube. TikTok itself has been experimenting with generative AI ad tools, signaling a market where AI-driven video is quickly becoming the norm.
By framing Sora as creation-first and emphasizing safety, OpenAI is betting it can differentiate from “AI slop” criticisms already aimed at rival platforms. Whether users adopt it at scale will determine if OpenAI can truly compete in the social app landscape.
What Comes Next
Currently, Sora is invite-only in the U.S. and Canada, with expansion planned for other regions. Access will remain free initially, though OpenAI notes that optional fees may be introduced to cover compute demand during peak usage. The app’s long-term monetization strategy has not yet been revealed.
Sora 2 itself will also become available through the web and API, extending beyond the app. For now, however, the focus is on positioning Sora as a social playground for AI video creation, blending technical breakthroughs with a community-driven experience.
