Freemium
OpenAI introduced its newest offering, Sora 2, in late September 2025, and it has quickly claimed the top spot in Apple’s App Store rankings. This is the company’s second-generation video model, designed to produce short video clips, complete with corresponding sound, solely from written instructions. Imagine the impact of applying the massive scaling principles used for language models like GPT, but applied instead to video training.
Crucially, the integrated physics engine operates effectively. Water behaves realistically, flowing as it should. Objects successfully follow the rules of gravity, displaying proper bouncing, tumbling, and interaction with their environment.
Sound is no longer an afterthought; it is intrinsically included. Users avoid the need for external tools to incorporate sound effects or ambient noise. If you generate a city street, you’ll hear the continuous hum of traffic and distant conversations. A mountain scene will automatically include the sound of wind and crunching snow.
The Cameo function is a particularly intriguing addition. By recording yourself once within the application, Sora 2 gains the ability to place your verified likeness (face, voice, and gestures) into any generated scene. Users maintain control over who can utilize their digital double and can withdraw permission at any time. Internal testing by the OpenAI team revealed that this feature encouraged cross-departmental connections, suggesting it functions as a communication tool disguised as a video generator.
Sequential editing allows users to link several prompts together to form a single, continuous narrative. You are not confined to isolated clips. You can construct brief stories, moving seamlessly from scene to scene, without relying on external video editing software.
The app interface itself resembles a platform like TikTok, but every element in the feed is AI-generated. It features vertical scrolling, a social feed structure, and promotes a remix culture. OpenAI has stated they are not prioritizing user time spent scrolling, a claim that may seem either refreshing or overly optimistic. The platform includes built-in wellbeing reminders and natural language settings for customizing what appears in the feed.
Access is initially free, with “ample usage allowances” determined by available computing power. Subscribers to ChatGPT Pro gain entry to Sora 2 Pro, an experimental version offering higher-fidelity results. While an API for developers is planned, it is not yet live. The original Sora Turbo model remains available for users who prefer it.
For business users and entrepreneurs, this tool dramatically speeds up production. You can rapidly create mock-up marketing videos, generate product demonstrations, or produce social media content without hiring a production team. The sequential editing capability allows for detailed storyboarding and testing of creative concepts before committing major financial resources to live production. The Cameo feature enables the personalization of customer videos at an unprecedented scale.
General users now have access to filmmaking capabilities that previously required specialized training and expensive equipment. Families can become the stars of their own AI-generated adventures, and content creators can easily produce distinctive social media content. The learning barrier is practically zero, assuming one can formulate a simple sentence.
OpenAI has initial restrictions against uploading photorealistic images of individuals and applies strict moderation policies concerning minors. However, concerns remain regarding fabricated media (deepfakes), intellectual property violations, and the overwhelming quantity of AI-generated content flooding online platforms. The difficulty in distinguishing authentic content from generated material increases monthly, which significantly impacts brand trust and general confidence in online visual information.
Sam Altman has dubbed this the “ChatGPT moment for creativity.” While this might be promotional language, the tool undeniably democratizes the entire video production process in ways unimaginable just one year ago. Whether this shift is entirely positive ultimately depends on user behavior and the effectiveness of the deployed safety measures.