OpenAI announced Tuesday that it is shutting down its AI video app Sora, just six months after launch, as the company shifts focus toward business-oriented tools ahead of a potential stock market debut.
The company posted on X: “We’re saying goodbye to Sora,” and said it will provide timelines for winding down the app along with guidance for users to preserve their work.
Sora had been one of the most high-profile consumer AI launches of the past year, but OpenAI faces growing questions about its business model, with operating costs rising faster than revenue despite roughly one billion daily users worldwide.
Sam Altman reportedly informed staff of the shutdown on Tuesday. The move aligns with internal priorities, following comments from Fidji Simo earlier this month urging teams not to be distracted by “side quests” and emphasizing a focus on autonomous, agentic AI systems that can write software, analyze data, and perform other tasks independently.
The shutdown also ends a planned $1 billion deal with The Walt Disney Company
