OpenAI shutters Sora
OpenAI abruptly shut down its Sora AI video platform after about six months, winding down the video division and cancelling a reported $1B Disney partnership — the project reportedly burned ~$5B for just $2.1M in revenue. The pullback is being framed as a strategic reset toward core models ahead of an anticipated IPO. (techcrunch.com)
OpenAI first put Sora’s video model inside ChatGPT for Plus and Team users in February 2024, then launched a standalone iOS app on September 30, 2025. (primetimer.com) Market telemetry showed a rapid rise and fall: analytics firms reported Sora peaked in late 2025 with multi‑million downloads and then slid to roughly 1.1–1.2 million monthly installs by January–February 2026. (indexbox.io) OpenAI tried to monetize usage in October 2025 after head of Sora Bill Peebles warned “the economics are currently completely unsustainable,” rolling out paid credit bundles priced at about $4 for 10 extra video generations. (tech.yahoo.com) OpenAI’s support documentation sets firm wind‑down dates: the Sora web and app experiences will be discontinued on April 26, 2026, and the Sora API is scheduled for shutdown on September 24, 2026, with export guidance for user content. Company leadership framed the move as a portfolio reset ahead of public markets: CEO Sam Altman notified staff on March 24, 2026, that products built on the company’s video models would be wound down as resources and teams are redirected toward enterprise, robotics and productivity efforts. (wallstreetjournal-ny.newsmemory.com)
