OpenAI Shuts Down Sora Video App; Disney Drops $1 Billion Investment Plan

OpenAI announced it will discontinue Sora, its AI video generation app that launched six months ago and quickly topped the iPhone App Store. The company stated the Sora research team will refocus on 'world simulation research to advance robotics.' The shutdown killed a December deal with Disney that would have allowed Disney characters in user-generated AI videos, with sources confirming Disney is no longer proceeding with its planned $1 billion investment. OpenAI did not explain the timing, though the move comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny of deepfake content and concerns about the app's misuse for non-consensual imagery.