OpenAI Launches Sora Video Generator

Starting today, OpenAI's new video generator, Sora, is now available to subscribers of the ChatGPT Pro and Plus plans, but there’s a catch—it's not launching in the European Union.

Showcase of Features

In a revealing livestream yesterday, OpenAI showcased significant features of Sora, including technical specifications. This initial version, dubbed Sora Turbo, allows users to create short video clips ranging from 5 to 20 seconds in various aspect ratios and resolutions.

Will Peebles, a member of OpenAI’s technical team, commented, 'This early version of Sora will make mistakes—it’s not perfect, but it’s already evolved to a point where we believe it will greatly enhance human creativity.'

Distinct Features of Sora

What sets Sora apart? Early reviews from video blogger Marcus Brownlee highlight its impressive capabilities. Users can generate multiple variations of video clips from simple text prompts or images, along with editing options via a Re-mix tool. The Storyboard interface permits the creation of video sequences, while the Blend tool merges two videos into a new creation that retains elements of both. Other features like Loop and Re-cut allow for further fine-tuning of videos.

Capacity Issues and Credits

However, it’s important to note that Sora has been facing significant capacity issues since its launch. Creating videos with Sora requires credits, with usage fees fluctuating based on resolution and video length. For instance, generating a 480p video will cost between 20 to 150 credits, while 720p and 1080p videos will set users back 30 to 540 and 100 to 2,000 credits, respectively.

ChatGPT Plus users receive 1,000 credits for priority video processing, while Pro users enjoy a more generous 10,000 credits. Also notable is the inclusion of unlimited low-priority videos for Pro subscribers, albeit these come with watermarks unless specified otherwise.

Exclusion of EU Users

Unfortunately for European users, Sora is currently unavailable. OpenAI's help resources clearly exclude all EU countries from the supported territories list. The company's CEO, Sam Altman, noted during the livestream, 'We’re trying our hardest to launch [in Europe], but we don’t have any timing to share yet. There are certain other countries that we cannot operate in as well.' This exclusion is not unprecedented, as OpenAI has previously limited access to other features for EU users, like the Advanced Voice Mode, due to required external reviews to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Conclusion and Future Monitoring

These delays can be frustrating for European users eager to access new innovative technologies. As OpenAI continues to expand its offerings, users are left wondering when they can join in the excitement of Sora's launch.

Stay tuned as we continue to monitor updates regarding Sora's rollout and its potential availability in Europe!