OpenAI’s Sora app finally hits Android — Users in select countries can now add to the pile of AI-generated videos

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Great news for Android fans of AI art! OpenAI’s Sora is now a free download on the Google Play Store. Currently, it’s available to people in the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Okay, I’m seriously blown away! Sora just dropped a video on their X account – it shows an alien actually *talking* to a news reporter, and the big news is that the Sora app is finally here for Android users! It’s wild that the video itself was made by Sora, but even cooler that I can finally try it out on my phone.

Sora faced some criticism when it first came out in 2024, but it really gained attention after an update in September 2025.

OpenAI launched Sora 2 on September 30th, along with a new app called Sora where users can share the videos they create—it’s similar to TikTok. Previously, the Sora app was only available for iPhones and iPads, but now it’s available on other platforms as well.

Since Android powers about 70% of smartphones worldwide, many users weren’t able to fully experience the app. While some have dismissed Sora’s early results as low-quality, the latest images from Sora 2 clearly show significant improvements.

Sora 2 is capable of generating remarkably realistic videos, and it effectively follows complex directions. OpenAI described its release as a significant leap forward for video generation, similar to the major improvements seen with ChatGPT in March 2022.

Sora is a social app filled with AI-created videos you can scroll through continuously. It focuses entirely on AI-generated content – you can watch clips up to 10 seconds long, but you can’t upload your own videos or photos.

As an analyst, I’ve been exploring Sora, and one of the interesting features is its ability to include people in videos. It essentially lets you create ‘cameos’ – what used to be referred to as ‘deepfakes,’ but with a more positive framing. The process is straightforward: you verify your identity within the app and then decide if you want to allow your friends to use your likeness in their videos. It’s all about giving users control over how their image is used.

Until recently, you needed an invitation to try Sora 2, whether on the web or through the app. However, OpenAI (the makers of ChatGPT) recently opened it up to users in the US, Canada, South Korea, and Japan. While access is limited-time, this is a good opportunity for people in those countries to experience Sora 2 firsthand.

What makes OpenAI’s Sora image generator so controversial?

In early 2024, OpenAI released Sora, a feature that CEO Sam Altman revealed was highly requested by users of their popular chatbot, ChatGPT, during a conversation with Bill Gates.

As a researcher following AI development, I was struck by the impact Sora had, even in its initial form – it really shook up the creative world. OpenAI didn’t publicly detail its training data, but reports quickly surfaced suggesting it included content from popular games like Minecraft, Counter-Strike, and Call of Duty, among others.

This week, it came to light that Japanese copyright holders, through the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), have asked OpenAI to stop training its AI using their work.

The group features renowned animation studio Studio Ghibli, known for classics like Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle, alongside popular video game companies Bandai Namco and Square Enix.

We’re likely to see more legal conflicts between creators and AI companies that use their work to teach AI systems, particularly as tools like the Sora image generator get even better.

AI is quickly becoming capable of generating short videos that look just like real footage, and it won’t be long before this technology can create entire, professional-quality films accessible to everyone.

As a researcher following AI developments, I’ve noticed Microsoft recently introduced a new custom AI image creator. It’s called MAI-Image-1, and you can access it directly through Bing Image Creator and Copilot Audio Expressions. I’m excited to see how this tool will be used!

MAI-Image-1 isn’t yet available in the EU, but it is expected to launch there soon.

FAQ

What is Sora?

Sora is an image generator created by OpenAI. You can use it on any web browser or through the Sora app, which is now available for both iPhones and Android phones.

What is Sora 2?

Sora 2 is the image generation tool’s latest update, which launched on September 30, 2025.

Until recently, you needed an invitation to try Sora 2. Now, people in the US, Canada, Japan, and Korea can test it out for a limited time without one.

Is the Sora app a lot like TikTok?

OpenAI’s Sora works a lot like TikTok – it shows you a never-ending stream of videos chosen just for you. OpenAI is also focusing on making Sora a social experience, letting you and your friends appear together in the AI-created videos through a feature called “cameos.”

Is Sora free to use?

The Sora app is available for free on both iPhones and Android phones. OpenAI made it free so people could easily try out what it can do.

This could change in the future, but for now, there’s no risk to giving it a shot.

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2025-11-06 00:40