Sora marks a turning point in the field of generative artificial intelligence applied to video. Developed by OpenAI , the company behind ChatGPT and DALL·E, this new technology introduces a novel way to produce moving images from text.
In this article, we explain what Sora is, how it works, who it’s designed for, and how it differs from its main competitors such as Runway, Pika, Luma, and Google Veo.
What is Sora?
Unveiled on February 15, 2024 , Sora is a generative AI platform capable of transforming text or images into realistic videos up to one minute long.
Its main objective is to teach artificial intelligence to “simulate the physical world in motion” : to understand depth, space, light, and the interaction of objects in three-dimensional environments.
As of today, Sora is not publicly available . OpenAI is keeping it in closed testing , collaborating with researchers, visual artists, and filmmakers to evaluate both its capabilities and potential ethical and misinformation risks.
Who is it intended for?
Sora is aimed at a wide range of professionals and organizations working with audiovisual content:
- Content creators : to generate visual resources without relying on expensive recording or post-production equipment.
- Marketing departments : to prototype advertising campaigns and visualize concepts before filming.
- Product and design teams : to turn ideas into fast and consistent visual representations.
- Creative studios and agencies : as a tool for ideation, storyboarding, and exploring visual style.
In short, Sora turns a script or description into an AI-generated cinematic sequence .
How Sora Works
Sora uses an architecture of diffusion models and spatiotemporal transformers , trained on millions of images and video clips.
Unlike previous models, it does not generate isolated images, but rather time-coherent blocks (spatiotemporal patches) , which guarantee continuity between frames, realistic physics, and natural camera and character behavior.
Main features
- Multimodal input : accepts text and image as a starting point.
- Temporal and physical coherence : maintains the logic of movement, depth and persistence of objects.
- Camera and scene control : simulates natural movements such as pans, tracking shots, or follow shots.
- Length and style : videos up to one minute long, in multiple styles (realistic cinema, animation, 3D illustration, etc.).
- Editing on existing footage : You can extend, complete, or modify real videos while maintaining visual continuity.
- Professional output : high definition clips (approx. 1080p at 24–30 fps), in MP4 or MOV formats.
Current limitations
- It does not automatically generate audio or subtitles (requires external integration).
- Access restricted to developers and testers selected by OpenAI.
- Possible artifacts or unnatural movements if the prompt is not well defined.
- Limited duration (≤ 1 minute).
Sora vs. other AI video tools
The generative AI ecosystem for video is growing rapidly. Here are the main alternatives to Sora and their differences:
|
Tool |
Main focus |
Strengths |
Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sora (OpenAI) |
Realistic video generation from text |
Physical coherence, spatial and contextual understanding |
No audio, restricted access |
|
Runway Gen-3 |
Professional creative production |
Advanced visual quality, camera control |
Requires a powerful GPU or a paid plan |
|
Pika Labs |
Quick video for social media |
Agility and expressiveness |
Limited realism |
|
Luma AI |
3D visualization and scene reconstruction |
Ideal for architecture and VR |
Small scenes |
|
Google I See |
Direct competitor of Sora |
Generation with synchronized audio |
Internal access only |
|
Gen-3 by Stability |
Experimental content |
Simple and accessible interface |
Lower physical precision |
Together, Sora and Veo are leading the technological race to offer ultra-realistic video with temporal coherence and deep semantic understanding.
How to create effective prompts in Sora
Prompts are the heart of any generative tool. In Sora, clarity and detail are essential for achieving cinematic-quality results .
Structured prompt template
“Create a [type of shot] of [character or action] in [environment or context] with [type] lighting and [pan/tracking/side focus] camera movement, with an [emotional/visual] tone.”
Example:
“Create a medium shot of a scientist in a futuristic laboratory illuminated with bluish light, while the camera follows her from the side, with a reflective and atmospheric tone.”
Advanced Prompts
- Continuity of character:
“The same character with the same clothing and expression continues walking through the same environment, camera in motion tracking.” - Artistic or cinematic references:
“In the visual style of Blade Runner 2049 , with realistic texture and diffused neon lights.” - Rhythm and tone:
“10-second sequence shot, slow motion, melancholic tone.”
Best practices for leveraging Sora
- Specify context and action : AI understands physical relationships better if the prompt includes verbs of movement and environment.
- Avoid ambiguous descriptions : “beautiful” or “exciting” do not provide visual information.
- Include familiar visual references : they help the model define lighting and composition.
- Iterate the prompts : each clip may require adjustments to achieve the desired result.
- Combine Sora with AI audio tools (ElevenLabs, Mubert, etc.) for complete results.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sora
Can I use Sora today?
Not yet. OpenAI is keeping access closed to a select group of creators and developers. A phased opening is expected throughout 2025.
What duration and resolution does it achieve?
Up to one minute, in Full HD (1080p) quality and 24–30 fps.
Does it generate sound or voice?
No, although it allows you to add external tracks.
Can the videos be used commercially?
Not at this time. All content generated during the testing phase belongs to OpenAI and is intended for research and validation purposes.
The future of AI-powered video
Sora demonstrates that artificial intelligence no longer simply interprets language, but transforms it into image and movement .
Its potential ranges from film pre-visualization to advertising production, product design, and visual education .
However, its deployment also raises challenges regarding the veracity, intellectual property, and ethics of the generated content .
OpenAI has taken a key step towards a new paradigm:
From text to the visual world, in a single prompt.
With Sora, the future of audiovisual creation no longer depends solely on a camera: now, it also depends on artificial intelligence.