OpenAI is preparing to launch a standalone social video app powered by its next-generation Sora 2 model, marking the company's boldest expansion into consumer social media. The TikTok-like platform, already generating buzz among internal employees who've been using it so heavily that managers joke about productivity concerns, could reshape how users interact with AI-generated video content.
OpenAI just made its most aggressive play yet for consumer attention. The company is preparing to launch a standalone app for Sora 2 that looks and feels exactly like TikTok - vertical video feeds, swipe navigation, For You pages, and all - except every piece of content is entirely AI-generated.
According to documents viewed by WIRED, the app launched internally last week and has already become such a hit among employees that managers are joking about it becoming "a drain on productivity." That's exactly the kind of organic engagement OpenAI needs to prove its consumer social media ambitions can work.
The platform's standout feature is its identity verification system, which lets users confirm their likeness and then use themselves in AI-generated videos. Friends can tag each other and create videos together - imagine generating a clip of you and your buddy riding roller coasters at Disney World without ever leaving your couch. Users get notifications whenever their likeness appears in someone else's creation, even in draft form.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. With President Trump's ongoing TikTok deal creating uncertainty around the Chinese-owned app's future in the US, OpenAI sees a window to capture users looking for alternatives. Internally, sources tell WIRED there's a feeling this moment represents a unique opportunity to launch a short-form video platform without geopolitical baggage.
OpenAI originally launched Sora in December 2024 as a web-based tool before integrating it into ChatGPT. While impressive for its time, the original model struggled with physics and realistic action sequences, particularly in longer clips. Sora 2 appears designed to address these limitations while powering an entirely new social experience.
The competitive landscape is heating up fast. Meta just introduced "Vibes," a dedicated AI video feed within its Meta AI app, while Google is integrating its Veo 3 model directly into YouTube. But OpenAI's approach differs by creating an entirely separate platform focused exclusively on AI-generated content rather than mixing it with traditional uploads.
