OpenAI has unveiled Sora 2, its most advanced text-to-video AI model to date, featuring hyper-realistic motion, synchronized audio, and enhanced controllability for clips up to 20 seconds long. Released on September 30, 2025, alongside an invite-only iOS app called Sora—a TikTok-like social platform for generating, remixing, and sharing AI videos—Sora 2 marks a significant evolution from the original Sora’s February 2024 debut. For AI creators, video enthusiasts, and social media innovators searching OpenAI Sora 2 launch, Sora app revenue model, or AI video generation 2025, the model addresses previous limitations in physics simulation and realism, with examples including Olympic gymnastics routines and synchronized dialogue scenes. While the Sora app is free at launch to encourage exploration, OpenAI has introduced a pay-per-use revenue model for generating extra videos during high-demand periods, alongside plans for revenue-sharing with copyright holders who opt-in for character usage. This monetization strategy, detailed by CEO Sam Altman, aims to sustain the platform’s growth amid expected rapid adoption, with the app initially rolling out in the US and Canada.
Sora 2’s capabilities, including better object permanence and audio integration, position it as a direct competitor to Meta’s Vibes feed and Google’s Veo 2, potentially revolutionizing short-form content creation.
Sora 2 Model: Hyper-Realistic Video with Audio and Control
Sora 2 builds on the original Sora by incorporating synchronized dialogue, sound effects, and improved physical realism, generating clips up to 1080p in widescreen, vertical, or square formats. Users can bring their own assets to extend or remix videos, or create from text prompts.
Key advancements:
- Physics and Realism: Accurate simulations of buoyancy, rigidity, and motion, like basketballs bouncing off hoops or cats clinging during jumps.
- Audio Integration: Synchronized dialogue and effects, addressing a major gap in prior models.
- Controllability: Enhanced steerability for stylistic range, from photorealistic to animated.
OpenAI shared demo clips, including a figure skater with a cat on her head and a skateboarder performing backflips, showcasing Sora 2’s ability to handle complex dynamics. The model is available via the Sora app’s Pro tier ($20/month for unlimited access) and API for developers.
| Feature | Sora (2024) | Sora 2 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Clip Length | Up to 60s | Up to 20s (Expandable) |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p (Enhanced) |
| Audio | None | Synchronized Dialogue/SFX |
| Realism | Basic Physics | Advanced Motion/Buoyancy |
The Sora App: A TikTok Rival for AI Video Sharing
The Sora app serves as a social platform where users generate, remix, and discover AI videos in an algorithmic feed tailored to interests. It’s invite-only at launch, with ChatGPT Pro users gaining priority access to Sora 2 Pro for advanced features.
- Feed and Remixing: Algorithmic discovery with “steerable ranking” for personalization; tap to remix videos with new elements.
- Monetization: Free core app, but pay-per-use for extra generations during high demand. Altman noted: “Users are creating significantly more video content than expected… prompting the need for a monetization strategy.”
- Expansion: US and Canada first; global rollout planned soon.
The app integrates with OpenAI’s ecosystem, funneling traffic to AI creation while testing revenue models like subscriptions and ads.
Revenue Model: Pay-Per-Use and Content Owner Sharing
OpenAI’s monetization for Sora 2 combines accessibility with scalability:
- Pay-Per-Use: Free generations limited; extra videos charged during peak times to manage compute costs.
- Revenue-Sharing: Copyright holders can opt-in for character usage, earning a share of platform revenue—trialed in Sora before broader rollout.
This approach, per Altman, will “take some trial and error,” but aims to sustain growth as video creation surges.
Conclusion: Sora 2’s Video Revolution with Smart Monetization
OpenAI’s Sora 2 launch with a pay-per-use revenue model on September 30, 2025, blends cutting-edge generation with a social app, rivaling TikTok while testing sustainable economics. As invites expand, it could spark an AI video boom—or debates on creativity. For creators, the prompts await—will Sora 2 redefine short-form? The clips compile. Tech crunch
