OpenAI Product Pulse

Sora discontinuation and Sora 2 audio launch

Sora discontinuation and Sora 2 audio launch

Key Questions

Why was the Sora app discontinued?

The Sora app was discontinued on April 26 due to high operational costs and low usage, resulting in $15 million daily losses and a $5 billion annual burn rate. API access will shut down on September 24.

What improvements does Sora 2 introduce?

Sora 2 adds 4K resolution, support for 25-second clips, and native audio with dialogue generation for more cinematic video output. It maintains physical accuracy and temporal coherence.

What happens to existing Sora credits after discontinuation?

Users' remaining credits will transfer to Codex and ChatGPT for continued access to video generation features. This supports a smoother transition to alternatives.

How does Sora 2 handle audio in generated videos?

Sora 2 generates native audio and dialogue directly within video clips, enabling more complete cinematic scenes without post-processing. This addresses a key limitation of the original model.

What alternatives are users considering for AI video?

With Sora's phase-out, users are exploring tools like Descript and other third-party video generators. These options help maintain workflow continuity for AI video creation.

Sora app discontinued Apr 26 due to high costs/low usage ($15M daily losses, $5B annual burn). API shutdown Sept 24. Sora 2 adds 4K, 25s clips, native audio/dialogue for cinematic scenes. Credits now transfer to Codex/ChatGPT. Phase-out confirmed amid alternatives like Descript.

Sources (3)
Updated May 21, 2026
Why was the Sora app discontinued? - OpenAI Product Pulse | NBot | nbot.ai