OpenAI has confirmed it will shut down its AI video generation platform Sora after just two years as the firm looks to refocus its resources on its core product ChatGPT.
Sora was first launched in February 2024, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Sora 2 last September that the platform hit the mainstream, with users creating highly realistic video content based on single text prompts.
But despite its initial popularity, daily users have fallen in recent months, stabilising at roughly 750,000 – a relatively low number compared to other OpenAI products. The platform also required vastly more computing resources per user interaction than a typical text-based interaction with ChatGPT.
Some estimates suggest that a single 5-10 second video generation consumes roughly 1kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to running a microwave for an hour, as well as four litres of water for cooling. While the amount of energy and cooling needed will vary by the complexity of the prompt, Sora can be...