In a remarkable feat, OpenAI’s Sora iPhone application achieved one million downloads within a mere five days following its September 30 debut, surpassing the download rate of the ChatGPT iOS app. This rapid proliferation is particularly noteworthy, given the app’s restricted availability.
It was released exclusively in the U.S. and Canada, and an invitation code is required for usage, presenting an additional barrier. Additionally, Sora remains inaccessible on Android devices.
Bill Peebles, OpenAI’s lead for Sora, took to X on Thursday to publicize this accomplishment, stating the team is “working tirelessly to accommodate the burgeoning interest,” while hinting at forthcoming enhancements and adjustments to address overmoderation.
His statements followed observations from various sources that illustrated Sora’s skyrocketing popularity relative to ChatGPT’s iPhone application.
sora hit 1M app downloads in <5 days, even faster than chatgpt did (despite the invite flow and only targeting north america!)!
team working hard to keep up with surging growth. more features and fixes to overmoderation on the way!
According to an analysis by TechCrunch, app tracking data reveals that Sora outperformed ChatGPT in its inaugural week in the App Store, recording 627,000 downloads against ChatGPT’s 606,000.
Remarkably, Sora’s actual download figures have exceeded preliminary estimates, aligning with Peebles’ previous comments.
Starting from its first day, Sora garnered immense interest, peaking at 56,000 downloads and securing the position of the third most popular app in the U.S. App Store. By October 3, it ascended to the top spot, fueled by viral clips shared across social media.
Sora 2, featuring a new AI video generation model, captivated users, prompting them to showcase their creations, while others circulated invite codes on X and other platforms to facilitate access.
Understanding Sora’s Popularity
Sora serves as a social networking platform where users can both consume and generate AI-driven short-form video content. An exceptional characteristic of the Sora app is the capability to incorporate real individuals into videos as cameos.
Users can feature themselves or procure consent from others to utilize their cameos. Notably, Sam Altman and billionaire Mark Cuban have both made their cameos available, inviting users to engage with their appearances in Sora clips.
Initially leaked prior to its official announcement, the Sora app generated skepticism, labeled by some as a potential conduit for unrefined AI content. However, it possesses an unexpected allure that has captivated users, as articulated by respected Apple analyst John Gruber.
He remarked, I am not inclined to categorize Sora as a mere fad or as a sustainable entity, but it has sparked enjoyment within me that I haven’t derived from a new social network in years.
The simplicity of producing a frivolous video with just a brief prompt is exhilarating, and the humor generated by those I follow is a daily delight.
Sora’s rapid emergence atop the App Store is particularly intriguing when contextualized within a competitive landscape. The Gemini app had, for a brief period, held the title of most downloaded iPhone app, riding a wave of interest inspired by the Nano Banana image generator, while Meta recently introduced its own AI-centric social feed just days prior to Sora’s launch.
Source link: Bgr.com.
