OpenAI is discontinuing its Sora video-generation service and API, in a surprise move that comes six months after it launched a stand-alone app for the product last September.
The start-up is also winding down a partnership with Disney, announced in December, that had centred on Sora.
Disney deal
The three-year deal was to have involved Disney investing $1 billion (£750m) in OpenAI and licensing well-known characters for use in video generation.
Disney said it respects “OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere”.
Video features will not be supported in other OpenAI tools, such as ChatGPT.
A team at Disney was working with OpenAI’s Sora team on Monday night when Disney learned its partner was “pivoting strategy”, Reuters reported, in an indication of the abruptness of the move.
Enterprise focus
In a memo to staff about the changes, chief executive Sam Altman said the company would focus on AI agents and an upcoming model called Spud.
An OpenAI spokesperson said the Sora team would focus on “world simulation” to help advance robotics applications.
OpenAI faces increasing competition from rivals such as Anthropic, whose focus on applications for enterprises and developers have helped gain it a significant customer base.
