OpenAI, the company behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, has shut down its Sora video-generation tool, effectively ending a planned $1 billion partnership with Walt Disney Co.
The decision was disclosed on Tuesday, March 24, in a post by the Sora team on X, confirming the abrupt end of the AI video project.
Ashenews gathered through Walt Disney Co and OpenAI had been working on a project linked to Sora but were blindsided by news of the shutdown just 30 minutes after a meeting on Monday.
The shutdown signals a major strategic shift by OpenAI, as it moves away from video generation to focus on more commercially viable areas.
The Sora team acknowledged the impact of the decision on users and creators who had built communities around the platform.
“We’re saying goodbye to the Sora app. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you. What you made with Sora mattered, and we know this news is disappointing.
“We’ll share more soon, including timelines for the app and API and details on preserving your work. – The Sora Team”
For its part, Disney said it respects OpenAI’s decision to discontinue the product and shift its priorities. A spokesperson for the company noted that it remains open to exploring other forms of collaboration.
