OpenAI's Sora App: A Pivot from Grand Vision to 'AI Slop' and Ad Revenue?

This week, I discussed OpenAI's new video generation model, Sora 2, which can generate remarkably realistic videos from simple text prompts. For instance, a prompt like "a man rides a horse which is on another horse" yields an output like this:

AI video generation is both technically fascinating and ethically concerning in ways one might anticipate. However, another crucial element of this story is worth highlighting: OpenAI accompanied the release of their new Sora 2 model with a "social iOS app" simply named Sora.

This app, clearly inspired by TikTok, allows users to quickly generate short videos based on text descriptions and consume others' creations via an algorithmically curated feed. The videos circulating on this new platform are often as outrageously absurd or morally questionable as you might expect. Examples include:

Or,

In essence, the Sora app intensifies the "pure engagement" model of platforms like TikTok by stripping away human agency, resulting in what can be described as artificial, high-octane 'slop'.

It remains uncertain whether this app will succeed long-term. A significant hurdle is the substantial backend expense of producing these videos. Currently, OpenAI requires a paid ChatGPT Plus account to generate content. The $20 tier allows for up to 50 low-resolution videos monthly, while a $200 monthly subscription unlocks more high-resolution creations. This pricing structure contrasts sharply with competitors like TikTok, which operate at a fraction of the cost, remaining truly free for users and even paying their creators.

Regardless of Sora's longevity, its mere release by OpenAI is the most striking aspect.

It wasn't long ago that Sam Altman was comparing the release of GPT-5 to the testing of the first atomic bomb, and many commentators believed Dario Amodei's proclamation that 50% of white-collar jobs might soon be automated by LLM-based tools.

A company truly convinced its technology was on the brink of managing vast economic sectors and profoundly reshaping our world wouldn't be focused on generating quick profits by selling ads against deepfake videos of historical figures wrestling. Nor would they be contemplating, as Altman recently did, offering an age-gated ChatGPT version for adult AI-generated "erotica."

To me, these actions suggest a company that invested tens of billions with the hope of creating the most consequential invention in modern history, only to realize that while their creation is impressive and powerful, it isn't sufficient on its own to usher in a new world overnight.

In his famous 2021 essay, "Moore’s Law for Everything," Altman made the following grandiose prediction:

"Software that can think and learn will do more and more of the work that people now do. Even more power will shift from labor to capital. If public policy doesn’t adapt accordingly, most people will end up worse off than they are today."

Just four years later, he appears to be betting his company on selling ads against 'AI slop' and computer-generated pornography. It's crucial not to be swayed by the hype; this strategic pivot is highly significant.