Key Takeaways
- OpenAI introduces paid video generations in Sora at $4 for 10 extra videos
- Free daily limit remains at 30 videos, but Sora chief warns it’s temporary
- Sora ranks as #2 free app on Apple App Store, behind only ChatGPT
- Company faces lawsuit over “Cameos” feature name and implements content restrictions
OpenAI has launched its first monetization strategy for Sora, allowing users to purchase additional AI video generations beyond daily limits. Users can now buy 10 extra videos for $4, while maintaining the current free allowance of 30 videos per day.
Bill Peebles, head of Sora at OpenAI, confirmed the new pricing model via X, noting that Pro users currently get 100 daily generations. He cautioned that free limits are likely temporary due to unsustainable economics and limited computing power.
Sora’s New Paid Model
The paid option signals OpenAI’s first step toward monetizing the popular video generation app. While basic access remains free, power users can now purchase additional capacity immediately.
Peebles explained that the company underestimated user demand, with the original 30-free-generations-per-day limit proving insufficient for many creators.
In a recent thread of X posts, Peebles wrote:“We are launching the ability to buy extra gens in Sora today. We are doing this for two main reasons: First, we have been quite amazed by how much our power users want to use Sora, and the economics are currently completely unsustainable. We thought 30 free gens/day would be more than enough, but clearly we were wrong! This will let our pro creators get as much usage as they want to pay for. Second, this is a step towards a new Sora economy. We imagine a world where rightsholders have the option to charge extra for cameos of beloved characters and people. We will soon pilot monetisation, prioritising people and companies who got onto the platform early. This will also be a way for a new generation of sora creators to make money. Eventually, we will need to bring the free gens down to accommodate growth (we won’t have enough GPUs to do it otherwise!), but we’ll be transparent as it happens. In the meantime, enjoy the crazy usage limits 🙂 Rate limits for everyone are unchanged right now (pro users get 100/day, everyone else gets 30/day). We will need to increase the gens/day used by Sora 2 pro to make the economics work out (video models really are expensive!), but we’re easing into it.”
Platform Growth and Accessibility
Sora has achieved remarkable popularity, currently ranking as the second most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store, surpassed only by OpenAI’s own ChatGPT.
The company is temporarily expanding access, allowing users in the US and Canada to sign up without invitation codes. This eased accessibility comes as OpenAI tests its monetization approach.
Legal and Content Challenges
The rollout hasn’t been without controversy. Cameo, the celebrity video message service, has sued OpenAI over the use of “Cameos” for one of Sora’s main features.
OpenAI maintains that no single company can claim ownership of the word “cameo.” Meanwhile, the company has implemented content restrictions addressing concerns about copyright violations and historical figure portrayals.
CEO Sam Altman emphasized the company’s commitment to responsible product design, ensuring tools aren’t overly habit-forming while navigating these complex challenges.
