OpenAI is rolling out major updates to its viral AI video app Sora, adding the ability to create AI cameos of pets and objects, basic video editing tools, and enhanced social features. The company also confirmed Android users won't wait much longer - the app is "actually coming soon" to Google Play after dominating Apple's App Store for weeks.
OpenAI's Sora just got a lot more interesting. The AI video app that's been sitting pretty at #1 on the App Store is about to become your pet's ticket to internet fame. Sora head Bill Peebles dropped the news on X yesterday, revealing a wave of updates that'll let users turn their dogs, guinea pigs, and "pretty much anything else" into AI cameos within days.
The timing couldn't be better. Third-party data from Appfigures shows Sora has racked up around 2 million downloads since its late September launch - impressive numbers for an invite-only app limited to the U.S. and Canada. Now OpenAI is doubling down on what made the app viral in the first place: the ability to insert yourself (or your pet) into AI-generated videos.
The pet cameo feature builds on Sora's existing character system, where users upload reference videos to create AI personas of themselves. "We're expecting people to register lots of crazy new cameos with this feature," Peebles wrote on X. "To make them easier to find, we're updating the generation UI to show the latest trending cameos in real time."
But pets are just the beginning. OpenAI is also tackling one of Sora's biggest user complaints: the lack of editing tools. The first wave will include basic clip stitching, with more sophisticated editing features promised over time. It's a direct response to creators who've been frustrated by the app's generate-and-pray approach to video creation.
The social side is getting an overhaul too. Peebles teased dedicated channels for universities, companies, and sports clubs - essentially turning Sora into a more organized creative platform rather than the current free-for-all feed. This shift signals OpenAI's ambition to compete not just with TikTok's algorithm-driven discovery, but with Discord's community-building approach.
Android users, who've been watching iPhone owners have all the fun, finally have reason for optimism. While Sora has been available for pre-registration on Google Play for weeks, Peebles confirmed it's "actually coming soon" - though he stopped short of providing a specific date.
