OpenAI is entering the video world with a new app called Sora, which enables users to create and share short, AI-generated videos. The app, set to launch soon, is already sparking a major new controversy over the use of copyrighted content.
The controversy centers on how OpenAI is handling copyrighted material. Instead of getting permission upfront, the company’s policy requires copyright owners, like movie and TV studios, to actively “opt out” of having their work used by the AI to generate new videos. This is the same controversial approach the company has used for its image generators, and it’s sure to anger many in Hollywood.
OpenAI has reportedly been in talks with major copyright holders, and at least one big studio, Disney, has already opted out. The company has also been lobbying the Trump administration to declare that training AI on copyrighted material constitutes “fair use,” an argument it says is vital for national security and for staying competitive with rivals in China.
The Sora app itself is designed to be a social experience. Users can create 10-second AI videos and share them in a social media-style feed. A feature called “Cameo” will even let you create a realistic AI version of yourself and insert it into the videos.
To address safety concerns, OpenAI states that it has built-in measures to prevent users from creating videos of public figures or other individuals without their permission. But with its new app, OpenAI is not just launching a new product; it’s opening a new front in the already heated battle over AI and creativity.
