one year on
OpenAI launches Sora video-generation tool for US and international users, but not EU or UK
Ten months after its February debut, OpenAI's text-to-video model Sora goes live for ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers, though capacity constraints force signup pauses on day one.
OpenAI today released Sora, its text-to-video AI model, to users in the US and most other countries — but not the European Union or the United Kingdom. The tool, announced in February, generates high-definition clips from text prompts, and can also extend existing videos or fill in missing frames. It is included with ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscriptions, with no extra charge.
On a livestream, product lead Rohan Sahai acknowledged the scrutiny the company faces, saying OpenAI must “prevent illegal use” while still enabling creative expression. The release follows a protest by early-access artists who published an open letter last month accusing the company of using them for unpaid labor and PR.
The launch puts Sora in competition with video-generation tools from Meta, Google’s Lumiere, and Stability AI’s Stable Video Diffusion. Concerns about deepfakes and misinformation persist: the number of AI-generated deepfakes has increased 900% year over year, according to machine learning firm Clarity. OpenAI has no timeline for availability in Europe or the UK.
Sora product lead said on livestream that OpenAI has a big target on its back and must prevent illegal use while balancing creative expression.
In an open letter last month, early access artists accused OpenAI of art-washing and using hundreds for unpaid labor while offering minimal compensation.
One year later — open only if you can handle spoilers
Sora's launch day chaos foreshadowed a pattern of OpenAI debuts that strained infrastructure. The tool eventually expanded to Europe in early 2026 after regulatory discussions. The artist protest became a recurring flashpoint in debates about AI company treatment of creative communities.