OpenAI, the developer behind the innovative AI social media app Sora, has officially launched an Android version of the app, opening up new possibilities for millions of users who previously had to rely on web browsers to access Sora. This announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a significant milestone in the app’s evolution, making it more accessible and user-friendly for the Android community. The new version is now available for download on the Google Play Store, and unlike before, Android users no longer need an invite code to start using Sora, making the experience more seamless and inclusive.
This Android release is just one of several recent updates OpenAI has rolled out for Sora. Bill Peebles, OpenAI’s head of Sora, shared insights about the app’s upcoming features in a recent post. These future enhancements include new AI video creation tools, improved social interaction features, and ongoing efforts to support Android users more robustly. Additionally, OpenAI is partnering with unions such as SAG-AFTRA and collaborating with celebrities and public figures to address concerns around the misuse of AI-generated content—particularly to prevent the creation and spread of inappropriate, illegal, or deceptive videos, including deepfakes. This proactive approach highlights OpenAI’s commitment to responsible AI use within social media.
At its core, Sora is an AI-powered video creation and sharing platform that allows users to generate videos featuring virtual characters, including realistic cameos of people or fictional entities. One of the standout features of Sora is the “cameo” tool, which enables users to insert likenesses of others into AI-generated videos. Recently, Sora expanded this feature beyond human figures to include pets like dogs and guinea pigs, favorite stuffed animals, or even characters generated from existing Sora videos. OpenAI has also introduced themed characters, such as Halloween-themed cameos, adding a playful and seasonal touch to the content users can create.
To enhance user engagement and content discovery, the app’s video generation interface now highlights trending cameos in real-time. This feature is reminiscent of popular social media platforms like Instagram, which use “For You” or “Explore” pages to surface content that is gaining traction. This real-time trend spotlight is expected to increase user interaction and encourage creativity by showcasing popular characters and styles within the community.
Beyond video creation, OpenAI is beginning to introduce basic video editing tools within Sora, starting with the ability to stitch multiple clips together directly in the app. While these editing capabilities are currently foundational, Peebles hinted at more advanced editing features on the horizon. This suggests OpenAI’s ambition to transform Sora from an app focused on quick, short AI videos into a versatile creative suite that professional content creators can use for more polished and complex productions.
On the social front, OpenAI is experimenting with ways to make Sora more community-oriented. Rather than limiting user interaction to a global feed of AI-generated videos, the company is exploring localized “channels” tailored to specific groups such as universities, workplaces, hobby clubs, or sports teams. This move aims to create a more organized and personalized social experience, fostering tighter-knit communities and reducing the chaos often associated with large, public content streams.
These developments come after a major Sora update earlier this month, which introduced longer video limits and a storyboarding feature. Previously, free users could create videos up to 15 seconds long on the iPhone app and via the web, while Pro users received an additional 10 seconds on the web, allowing for videos up to 35 seconds. This update came hot on the heels of Google’s enhancement of its Veo 3 AI video model, which now supports longer video generations, signaling increased competition and innovation in the AI video creation space.
In tandem with new features and broader accessibility, OpenAI has also revamped its payment plans for Sora. Before, free users could generate up to 30 videos per day, and Pro users had a daily limit of 100 videos. Now, users who reach their daily generation limit can purchase additional video generations in increments of 10 for $4. Furthermore, because Sora accounts are linked to ChatGPT accounts, subscribing to ChatGPT Pro automatically grants Pro status within Sora, simplifying the payment ecosystem for users of both services.
One of the more professional-grade tools introduced recently is the storyboarding feature, currently available only to Pro users on the web. Storyboarding, a staple in traditional filmmaking, allows creators to plan out their videos in advance before generating them.