What's New in Sora 2
Sora 2 represents the "GPT-3.5 moment" for video generation, bringing capabilities that were exceptionally difficult or impossible for prior models.
Enhanced Physical Accuracy
Accurately simulate complex physical actions like Olympic gymnastics, buoyancy dynamics, and real-world physics. The model can model failure, not just success—if a basketball player misses, the ball rebounds naturally.
Native Audio Generation
Create sophisticated background soundscapes, speech, and sound effects with a high degree of realism. All audio is generated natively and synchronized perfectly with video content.
Characters Feature
Inject yourself or others into any Sora-generated environment with accurate portrayal of appearance and voice. Works for any human, animal, or object through a short one-time video recording.
Improved Controllability
Follow intricate instructions spanning multiple shots while accurately persisting world state. Excels at realistic, cinematic, and anime styles with unprecedented creative control.
Model Overview
Sora 2 is OpenAI's flagship video and audio generation model, building on the foundation of the original Sora. This new model introduces capabilities that have been difficult for prior video models to achieve, representing a major leap forward in world simulation technology.
Core Capabilities
Text-to-Video
Create richly detailed, dynamic clips with audio from natural language descriptions.
Image-to-Video
Transform static images into dynamic videos with motion and audio.
World Simulation
Deep understanding of 3D space, motion, and scene continuity for realistic physics.
Multi-Style Support
Excels at realistic, cinematic, and anime styles with high fidelity.
The GPT-3.5 Moment for Video
While the original Sora (February 2024) was the "GPT-1 moment" for video generation, Sora 2 represents the "GPT-3.5 moment"—bringing capabilities that are exceptionally difficult and in some instances outright impossible for prior models. It can handle Olympic gymnastics routines, backflips on paddleboards with accurate buoyancy physics, and triple axels while maintaining realistic object permanence.
Key Features
Sora 2 introduces powerful capabilities that redefine what's possible in AI video generation.
Text-to-Video Generation
Transform natural language descriptions into richly detailed, dynamic video clips with synchronized audio. Sora 2 brings deep understanding of 3D space, motion, and scene continuity to create videos that are both imaginative and grounded in real-world dynamics.
Image-to-Video Generation
Bring static images to life with motion and audio. Upload an image and Sora 2 will create a dynamic video that maintains the image's style while adding realistic movement, physics, and synchronized sound effects.
Characters (Cameos)
Inject yourself or others into any Sora-generated environment with remarkable fidelity. After a short one-time video and audio recording to verify identity and capture likeness, you can drop yourself straight into any Sora scene with accurate portrayal of appearance and voice.
Remix Feature
Create and remix each other's generations for collaborative creativity. Build on existing videos to create variations, explore different styles, or extend narratives. Perfect for co-creative experiences and social content creation.
Native Audio Generation
Create sophisticated background soundscapes, speech, and sound effects with a high degree of realism. All audio is generated natively and perfectly synchronized with video content, creating a complete audiovisual experience.
Enhanced Physical Accuracy
Accurately simulate complex physical actions and real-world dynamics. From Olympic gymnastics to buoyancy physics, Sora 2 obeys the laws of physics better than prior systems. It can even model failure—if a basketball player misses, the ball rebounds naturally.
Technical Specifications
Sora 2 delivers high-quality video and audio output with flexible configuration options.
Video Output Specifications
Audio Specifications
Model Versions
Use Cases and Applications
From creative content to marketing, Sora 2 empowers creators across all sectors.
Creative Content Production
Create short films, music videos, anime, and artistic projects with cinematic quality. Perfect for filmmakers, artists, and content creators who want to push creative boundaries without extensive production resources.
Marketing & Advertising
Generate product launch teasers, brand story videos, and marketing assets that rival agency work. Create 15-20 second ads for social media platforms with cinematic quality and synchronized audio.
Social Media Content
Create viral TikTok/Reels content, user-generated style videos, and creative shorts. Use the Characters feature to inject yourself into any scene for authentic, engaging social media content.
Education & Training
Create explainer videos, educational content, and training materials. Transform complex concepts into engaging visual narratives that enhance learning and retention.
Product Demonstrations
Showcase products in action, demonstrate features, and visualize use cases. Create compelling product videos without physical prototypes or extensive filming.
Gaming & Entertainment
Generate game cinematics, concept videos, and character animations. Accelerate game development with rapid prototyping and visualization of game worlds.
Model Limitations
Understanding Sora 2's constraints helps you plan your projects effectively and set appropriate expectations.
Content Restrictions
Currently limited to content suitable for audiences under 18. Copyrighted characters, copyrighted music, and real people (including public figures) cannot be generated. Input images with human faces are currently rejected.
Asynchronous Processing
Video generation is an asynchronous process that typically takes several minutes. Generation time varies based on model selection (Sora 2 vs Sora 2 Pro), system load, and video complexity.
Access Limitations
Initial rollout is invite-based and limited to the U.S. and Canada, with plans to expand to additional countries. Access is subject to compute constraints and generous free limits.
Model Imperfections
While significantly improved, Sora 2 is far from perfect and still makes mistakes. However, it represents validation that further scaling up neural networks on video data will bring us closer to simulating reality.
Safety & Responsibility
OpenAI has implemented comprehensive safety measures including content moderation, likeness control, and iterative deployment. Users maintain full control over their Characters, and can revoke access or remove videos at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sora 2 and how to get started.
What's the difference between Sora 2 and Sora 1?
Sora 2 represents the "GPT-3.5 moment" for video generation, while Sora 1 (February 2024) was the "GPT-1 moment." Key improvements include: enhanced physical accuracy (can simulate complex actions like Olympic gymnastics), native audio generation (dialogue, sound effects, ambient noise), Characters feature (inject yourself into scenes), Remix capability, and improved controllability across multiple shots.
How can I access Sora 2?
Sora 2 is available through the Sora iOS app and sora.com web platform. Initial rollout is invite-based in the U.S. and Canada, with plans to expand globally. Sign up in-app for a push notification when access opens. ChatGPT Pro users can access the experimental Sora 2 Pro model. API access is planned for the future.
What video lengths and resolutions does Sora 2 support?
Sora 2 supports multiple video lengths (e.g., 5 seconds, 8 seconds) and resolutions including 720p, 1080p, and 4K. The specific options depend on your use case and model version (Sora 2 vs Sora 2 Pro). All videos are output in MP4 format with professional cinematic quality.
What is the pricing for Sora 2?
Sora 2 is initially available for free with generous limits to allow people to freely explore its capabilities, though subject to compute constraints. Sora 2 is faster and less expensive, ideal for rapid iteration. Sora 2 Pro is slower and more expensive but produces higher quality output. ChatGPT Pro users have access to Sora 2 Pro. Future plans include an option to pay for extra video generation if demand exceeds available compute.
How does the Characters feature work?
The Characters feature allows you to inject yourself or others into any Sora-generated scene. After a short one-time video and audio recording in the app to verify your identity and capture your likeness, you can drop yourself into any Sora environment with remarkable fidelity. You maintain full control—only you decide who can use your character, and you can revoke access or remove any video containing it at any time.
What are Sora 2's content restrictions?
Currently, Sora 2 only generates content suitable for audiences under 18 (a setting to bypass this will be available in the future). The system rejects copyrighted characters, copyrighted music, and real people including public figures. Input images with human faces are currently rejected. These restrictions help ensure responsible deployment while the technology continues to evolve.
Ready to Create with Sora 2?
Experience the future of AI video generation with unprecedented physical accuracy, native audio, and creative control.