OpenAI has announced the public launch of its new video generation tool — Sora. Users can now create videos using text prompts, “animate” images, extend existing clips, and fill in missing frames.
Sora was initially introduced in February 2024, but access was limited to a select group of users. Now, the tool is available to Pro and Plus subscribers in the U.S. and many countries worldwide. However, release dates for Europe, the UK, and other regions have not yet been specified.
Features and Capabilities of Sora Turbo
The current version of the tool, known as Sora Turbo, allows the generation of video clips lasting between 5 and 20 seconds in various resolutions. During the official launch, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman demonstrated the Blend feature, which seamlessly merges two scenes into one.
OpenAI technical specialist Will Peebles remarked:
“This is an early version of Sora. It isn’t perfect and can make mistakes. However, we believe it’s at a stage where it can truly enhance human creativity.”
Access and Credit System
Access to Sora is limited by a credit system. Creating videos consumes credits, with the amount depending on the resolution and length of the clip. Plus subscribers receive 1,000 credits per month, while Pro subscribers get 10,000 credits.
- Videos in 480p resolution cost between 20 and 150 credits.
- Generating videos in 1080p resolution requires 100 to 2,000 credits.
Credits do not roll over to the next month — unused credits expire when new ones are issued.
Competition and Community Reaction
In November 2023, some testers protested against OpenAI by uploading an early version of Sora to the Hugging Face platform before its official release.
Additionally, in August, it was revealed that Alibaba is developing a similar video generation tool called Tora, based on OpenAI’s technology.
Sora represents a significant advancement in generative AI, offering new creative possibilities for users worldwide.
