Sora: The Video App by OpenAI Surpasses One Million Downloads in Less Than Five Days
The social application from OpenAI dedicated to AI-generated videos, Sora, is off to a remarkable start.
According to Bill Peebles, the project leader, Sora exceeded one million downloads in less than five days following its launch — a record that even surpasses that of ChatGPT at its debut, despite its limited invitation-only access.
sora hit 1M app downloads in <5 days, even faster than chatgpt did (despite the invite flow and only targeting north america!)!
team working hard to keep up with surging growth. more features and fixes to overmoderation on the way!
— Bill Peebles (@billpeeb) October 9, 2025
A Record Launch for the Sora Application
Unveiled on September 30, 2025, on iOS, Sora allows users to scroll through a feed of AI-generated videos, as well as create their own using the Sora 2 video generation model.
A feature called “Cameos” also enables users to integrate their own face or that of a friend into a video produced by the AI.
A Controversy Surrounding Content and Copyright
The rapid success of Sora is already accompanied by controversies related to copyright. Some users have begun generating videos featuring protected characters in contexts that are less than flattering for the brands involved.
In light of this concern, OpenAI quickly responded by granting more control to rights holders to limit the unauthorized use of their intellectual properties.
The company has also introduced personal image management settings, allowing users to determine how their likeness may be used in Sora.
OpenAI Promises Quick Adjustments
“The team is working hard to keep pace with the explosive growth,” stated Bill Peebles on X. “New features and fixes to reduce overmoderation are on the way!“
For now, the Sora application is only available in the United States and Canada, but it has already climbed to the top of Apple’s App Store charts.
Sora, A New Social Experimentation Ground for OpenAI
With Sora, OpenAI is not just creating a video generation tool: the company aims to build a social platform focused on AI creativity, at the intersection of TikTok and Runway.
However, this rapid success raises challenges: moderation, image rights, and managing the virality of AI-generated content. If OpenAI can strike the right balance, Sora could become the first mainstream AI-powered video creation app to gain global traction.
