This feature allows Sora to use an uploaded photo or video as a "seed" to create new content. While recognizing the creative potential, OpenAI has expressed concerns about misuse, such as deepfakes or harmful content.
"The ability to generate videos using real people as references carries risks, so we’re taking an incremental approach to learn from early usage patterns," OpenAI stated in a blog post. To address these risks, sharing of such videos on Sora’s discovery feed is temporarily restricted.
Rohan Sahai, Sora’s product lead, emphasized OpenAI’s cautious rollout during a livestream, highlighting the focus on preventing illegal activity while supporting creative expression.
Generative video tools like Sora have raised concerns about deepfakes and misinformation. A report from ID verification service Sumsub noted that deepfake fraud increased over tenfold from 2022 to 2023.
To mitigate these risks, Sora employs a filtering system to detect and moderate content involving individuals under 18. OpenAI also enforces stricter moderation for potentially harmful content, such as violence or self-harm depictions.
OpenAI has added metadata to all Sora-generated videos that meet the C2PA standard, allowing platforms to identify their origin. Users can remove this metadata, but OpenAI promotes its use for transparency and accountability.
To prevent copyright issues, Sora includes a "prompt re-writing" feature that stops users from generating videos in the style of living artists without permission. While legal disputes over AI training data continue, OpenAI states it strives to respect creator rights.
Sora provides various creative tools for video generation, including options to create multiple variations from a text prompt, remix existing videos, and combine elements from two videos with a Blend tool. Additional features like Storyboard and Re-cut help users sequence and refine their videos.
Currently, Sora is available to subscribers of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro and Plus plans in select countries. OpenAI remains dedicated to improving the tool while balancing innovation with responsible use.
