OpenAI Sora Video Generation App Tops Apple App Store Charts

OpenAI's revolutionary AI video generation app Sora has achieved remarkable success, climbing to the number one position on Apple's US App Store within days of its launch. The achievement is particularly impressive considering the app operates on an invitation-only basis and is currently limited to iOS users in the United States and Canada. Sora secured 56,000 downloads on its first day and accumulated 164,000 total installs during its initial two days (September 30 and October 1). By Friday, October 3, the app had surpassed both Google Gemini (ranked #2) and OpenAI's own ChatGPT (ranked #3) to claim the top spot. The app utilizes OpenAI's advanced Sora 2 video and audio generation model, enabling users to create short AI videos, remix content generated by others, and share their creations on a communal feed similar to TikTok. However, unlike traditional social media platforms, every video on Sora is entirely AI-generated, with no real-world content. "It's been incredible to witness the collective creativity of humanity so far," remarked Bill Peebles, head of Sora at OpenAI, in a Friday post on X. "The team is rapidly iterating and responding to user feedback." The app's success comes fresh off OpenAI's $6.6 billion share sale that cemented the company's $500 billion valuation. Despite being invite-only, Sora's performance matches or exceeds other major AI app launches, including Anthropic's Claude and Microsoft's Copilot, and puts it on par with xAI's Grok launch. OpenAI has implemented safety measures to address potential risks associated with AI video generation, including providing users explicit control over the usage of their likeness on the platform. However, some early videos uploaded to the app have sparked discussions about its utility, potential risks, and legal implications. Currently, Android users must access Sora through its website, as the mobile app remains exclusive to iOS devices. Users without invitation codes can join a waitlist or receive codes from friends who already have access.