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Does OpenAI have a video generator?

Scenema Team · · Updated October 19, 2026
Contents: Did OpenAI ever have a video generator?

OpenAI previewed its Sora video model on February 15, 2024, opened it to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers on December 9, 2024, and released Sora 2 with an iOS app on September 30, 2025. The Sora app and web experience shut down on April 26, 2026, and the Sora API shut down on September 24, 2026. As of October 2026, OpenAI offers no video generator and has not announced a successor to Sora.

In this article

  • Did OpenAI ever have a video generator?
  • When did OpenAI shut down Sora?
  • Which AI video tools should you use instead?

Definition

OpenAI’s video generation status (n.) As of October 2026, OpenAI has no video generation product. Sora, its previous text-to-video model, shut down in two stages during 2026, and OpenAI named no replacement.

Did OpenAI ever have a video generator?

OpenAI’s text-to-video model was called Sora, and OpenAI first previewed it on February 15, 2024, as a research preview available to red teamers and to a group of visual artists, designers, and filmmakers. On December 9, 2024, OpenAI released Sora to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers as a standalone product at sora.com.

On September 30, 2025, OpenAI released Sora 2 together with an invite-only Sora app for iOS in the US and Canada. The app added synchronized audio, a feed for discovering and remixing videos, and a feature that let users insert themselves and their friends into scenes. All users could generate clips of up to 15 seconds, and Pro users could generate clips of up to 25 seconds on the web.

In December 2025, Disney signed a three-year licensing deal to bring more than 200 of its characters to Sora and agreed to invest $1 billion in OpenAI.

From December 2024 to April 2026, Sora was OpenAI’s consumer product for generating video. OpenAI stopped offering it to consumers in April 2026.

When did OpenAI shut down Sora?

OpenAI shut Sora down in two stages during 2026, starting with the consumer app.

Sora lifecycle

  1. February 15, 2024

    Sora previewed publicly

    Shared as a research preview with red teamers and a group of visual artists, designers, and filmmakers.

  2. December 9, 2024

    Sora launched to consumers

    Released to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers as a standalone product at sora.com.

  3. September 30, 2025

    Sora 2 and the Sora app launched

    Sora 2 released with an invite-only iOS app in the US and Canada.

  4. March 24, 2026

    Two-stage shutdown announced

    OpenAI notified users that the app and the API would shut down on separate dates.

  5. April 26, 2026

    Consumer app shut down

    The Sora app and web experience shut down.

  6. September 24, 2026

    API shut down permanently

    OpenAI stopped serving the Sora 2 models and the Videos API, with no recommended replacement.

OpenAI asked users to export their Sora content and said it would permanently delete all Sora data after any final export window.

OpenAI’s own announcements give the dates and explain what happens to users’ content, but they do not give a reason for the shutdown. The API deprecation page lists no recommended replacement for the Sora models, and OpenAI has not announced a successor product for video.

What AI video tools should you use instead of Sora?

Four short-form generative models currently produce the video Sora was best at, plus one category Sora never targeted.

Short-form generative models (Sora replacements for social clips):

  • Google Veo 3.1: Clips of 4, 6, or 8 seconds at up to 4K, with native audio and strong motion fidelity. Available through the Gemini API, Google AI Studio, and Google Flow.
  • Kling 3.0: Clips of 3 to 15 seconds with native audio, strong on cinematic realism. Kling 4.0, announced in late September 2026 with a full launch planned for October, supports clips of up to 30 seconds.
  • MiniMax H3: The audio-driven video model inside the Hailuo AI app. Released July 31, 2026, it generates up to 15 seconds at 2K with native stereo audio.
  • Runway Gen-4.5: An established option for creators, well integrated with editing workflows.

Long-form explainer platforms (a category Sora never targeted):

If you used Sora for short social clips, Veo 3.1 and Kling 3.0 offer similar short clips with native audio. If you need long-form output, which Sora did not target, Scenema and other long-form platforms are built for that format.

Can you still access Sora?

Sora is no longer available through the app, the web, or the API. The Sora app and web experience have been offline since April 26, 2026, and the Sora API shut down on September 24, 2026. OpenAI said it would permanently delete all Sora data after any final export window.

The TL;DR on OpenAI’s video generator

Does OpenAI have a video generator? OpenAI has no video generator as of October 2026. Sora, its previous video model, shut down in two stages during 2026, and OpenAI has not announced a successor.

When did Sora shut down? The consumer app and web experience shut down on April 26, 2026, and the API shut down on September 24, 2026. OpenAI announced the shutdown on March 24, 2026.

Did OpenAI say why it shut down Sora? OpenAI’s announcements give the shutdown dates but no reason. Its API deprecation page lists no recommended replacement for the Sora models.

What should I use instead of Sora? For short clips, Google Veo 3.1 and Kling 3.0 offer similar output with native audio. For long-form explainer video, Scenema is built for the format, and HeyGen and Synthesia are common choices for talking heads.

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