The video generator Sora is losing its audience following a rapid start. According to Appfigures, the number of downloads and the app’s popularity are declining.
On its release day, the iOS version based on Sora 2 garnered over 100,000 installations. The service surpassed the 1 million download mark faster than ChatGPT, despite being invite-only.
However, a few weeks after its debut, the trend reversed. In December, Sora’s downloads fell by 32% compared to the previous month. In January, the situation worsened, with the app being downloaded 1.2 million times.
The decline coincided with the holiday season, which is atypical for the market. Usually, this period sees increased activity as people receive new smartphones as gifts and often have time to install apps and games.
Consumer spending also decreased by 32% in January.
Consumer spending in Sora. Source: Appfigures.
In total, Sora has been downloaded 9.6 million times on iOS and Android. Users have spent $1.4 million within the app, with $1.1 million coming from the US market.
Similar to TikTok, the Sora app allows users to create short videos using prompts. A unique feature is the ability to choose oneself or friends as the main characters of the clip.
Videos from other participants are open for editing and enhancement. There is an option to add music, sound effects, and dialogues.
In the US App Store, the Sora app has dropped out of the top 100 free apps.
Reasons for the Decline
The decline is due to several factors. Firstly, Google’s Nano Banana model has emerged as a serious competitor, strengthening Gemini’s position.
Sora also competes with Meta AI, which features Vibes-videos based on AI. In December, pressure increased with the startup Runway, whose Gen 4.5 model outperformed its counterparts in independent tests.
Secondly, OpenAI’s product faced copyright infringement issues. Users were creating videos with popular characters like “SpongeBob” or “Pikachu,” prompting the company to tighten restrictions.
In December, the situation stabilized after an agreement with Disney allowed users to generate videos featuring the studio’s characters. However, this did not lead to an increase in downloads.
Back in October, deepfakes with Sam Altman flooded Sora.