OpenAI's 12 Days of 'Shipmas': Day 3 - Sora Video Generator Launches with Creative Focus

Ellis Crosby

AI Expert & Incremento AI Lead

December 10, 2024

openai chatgpt sora announcement text-to-video

Day 3 of OpenAI's Shipmas brings the long-awaited Sora video generation model. After 9 months of anticipation and a recent leak, it's finally here - though high demand temporarily paused new registrations. Let's break down what this means and why the timing is particularly interesting.

What's New in this AI innovation?

Sora Turbo, OpenAI's new video generation model, comes with:

- Available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users
- Videos up to 1080p resolution and 20 seconds long
- Multiple aspect ratios (widescreen, vertical, square)
- Ability to extend, remix, and blend existing assets
- New storyboard tool for frame-by-frame control

Pricing Structure:

- Plus users ($20/month): Up to 50 videos at 480p or fewer at 720p monthly
- Pro users ($200/month): 10x more usage, higher resolutions, longer durations
- Custom pricing for different user types coming in 2025

The Current State of AI Video Generation

While Sora's launch is significant, it's entering an increasingly crowded field:

- Tencent just released Hunyuan Video (free and open-source)
- MiniMax launched their competitive offering
- Luma Dream Machine continues to improve
- Runway and Pika maintain strong positions

What This Means For Creators

Sora appears to be targeting creative professionals first:

1. Content Creators: New ways to generate video content at scale
2. Storytellers: Tools for rapid prototyping and visualization
3. Video Artists: New medium for artistic expression
4. Social Media Managers: Quick video asset generation

Current Limitations

OpenAI is transparent about several constraints:

- Unrealistic physics in many scenarios
- Struggles with complex actions over time
- Limited ability to include specific people
- Not yet available in UK, Switzerland, and EEA
- No API access at launch

Safety Measures

OpenAI has implemented several safeguards:

- C2PA metadata for transparency
- Visible watermarks by default
- Internal search tool for verification
- Strict content moderation
- Gradual rollout of person-specific features

Business Impact Assessment

For most businesses, we recommend:

1. Wait and Watch: The technology needs time to mature
2. Start Planning: Begin thinking about video content strategy
3. Consider Alternatives: Look at other platforms that might better suit your needs
4. Focus on Content: Develop your video storytelling capabilities

Our Take

While Sora represents a significant step forward in AI video generation, it's not yet the business tool many hoped for. The focus on creative applications rather than commercial use cases suggests that most businesses should wait for more specialized features and better integration capabilities before making significant investments.

The real opportunity will likely come with:

- API access for custom applications
- Better product visualization capabilities
- More business-focused features
- Integration with existing workflows

Stay tuned for Day 4's coverage tomorrow!