Sora Update #1

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Usage patterns and limits

  • Initial per-user limits (reported ~100 videos/day, then cut to 30 with fewer concurrent jobs) were seen as very high for a “soft launch,” presumably to drive usage stats despite high compute cost.
  • Many users mainly generate private, low-stakes clips (jokes, drafts, messages for friends), not public “viral” videos.
  • Several comments suggest OpenAI misread the product: the app looks like TikTok, but people are using it more like Cameo or a private toy, often with copyrighted characters.

Copyright clampdown and rightsholders

  • Prompting with well-known game/anime/cartoon IP (Nintendo, Spongebob, superheroes, etc.) reportedly now triggers “third-party similarity” violations after an initial free-for-all.
  • Many suspect that enthusiastic talk about “interactive fan fiction” masks legal threats from powerful media companies.
  • OpenAI’s proposal to share revenue with rightsholders is seen by some as a way to legitimize training on their IP and ongoing use of their characters.

Corporate language, trust, and PR

  • The blog’s wording is widely criticized as euphemistic “corporate doublespeak” that downplays legal pressure and illegality concerns.
  • Others argue this tone is standard for executives everywhere, not unique to Silicon Valley, and reflects salesmanship during active negotiations.

Business model and cost

  • There’s disagreement on per-video compute costs, but consensus that current free or ultra-cheap usage is unsustainable.
  • Some think even paid generation plus revenue-sharing can’t cover real costs; others argue API prices are far above raw compute.
  • Several question why Sora is packaged as a TikTok-like consumer app instead of a high-priced professional tool, speculating about hype, data collection, and valuation.

Likeness, consent, and safety

  • Users worry about videos using real people’s likenesses without consent.
  • OpenAI’s reported solution (opt-in registration with a code phrase) is viewed as better than nothing but technically fragile and likely to be bypassed.

Broader copyright and art debates

  • Long subthreads debate whether copyright durations are too long, whether AI training is theft, and whether weakening copyright would mainly benefit platforms.
  • “Content” vs “art” language draws strong reactions, with many seeing “content” as demeaning to human creativity.
  • Some argue AI video is mostly derivative “slop” whose appeal drops sharply once popular IP is off-limits.