OpenAI, the company known for ChatGPT, introduced its latest Sora social media application on Tuesday, aiming to capture the attention of users currently engrossed in short-form videos on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Meta’s Instagram and Facebook. The newly launched iPhone app leverages the trend of creating diverse videos, ranging from anime to hyper-realistic styles, allowing users to showcase their creativity.
While the surge of such AI-generated videos on social media platforms is captivating, concerns have arisen about the prevalence of “AI slop” overshadowing genuine human creativity and impacting the information landscape. With advancements in AI technology, these videos have become increasingly convincing, leading to instances where viewers mistake AI-generated content for reality.
The Sora app’s official debut video showcases an AI-generated portrayal of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaking in unconventional settings like a psychedelic forest, the moon, and a stadium filled with cheering fans watching rubber duck races. Initially available exclusively on Apple devices in the U.S. and Canada, Sora offers a personalized experience by recommending videos based on users’ preferences.
Recently, Meta also launched its own AI-powered short-form video feed called Vibes within the Meta AI app. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a variety of AI videos on Instagram, including a cartoon version of himself and playful animations, emphasizing the personalized nature of Sora and Vibes in delivering engaging content tailored to individual tastes.
Amid the proliferation of AI-generated content, concerns regarding the authenticity and impact of such videos have been raised. Professor Jose Marichal from California Lutheran University highlighted the influx of captivating yet potentially misleading videos on social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a trustworthy information environment for informed decision-making.
OpenAI acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing the need to address issues like doomscrolling and addiction by incorporating user feedback mechanisms to enhance well-being and prioritize posts from known connections over strangers. Additionally, Sora permits users to create videos using copyrighted content, prompting discussions with copyright holders like major studios to ensure compliance with intellectual property regulations.
OpenAI has implemented safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of public figures’ likeness within the app, requiring individuals to consent to the creation of AI-generated videos featuring their image. These measures include a “liveness check” to verify user presence and the provision for users to preview videos involving their likeness before publication.