The video generator Sora is losing its audience after a rapid start. According to Appfigures, both 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 1 million downloads faster than ChatGPT, despite being invite-only.
However, just weeks after its debut, the trend reversed. In December, Sora's downloads dropped by 32% compared to the previous month. The situation worsened in January, with the app being downloaded 1.2 million times.
Source: Appfigures.
This decline coincided with the holiday season, which is unusual for the market. Typically, this period sees increased activity as people receive new smartphones as gifts and often have time to install apps and games.
Consumer spending also fell by 32% in January.
Overall, Sora has been downloaded 9.6 million times on iOS and Android. Users have spent $1.4 million in the app, with $1.1 million coming from the U.S. market.
Similar to TikTok, Sora allows users to create short videos using prompts. A unique feature is the option to select oneself or friends as the main characters in the video.
Videos from other users are open for editing and enhancement. Users can add music, sound effects, and dialogues.
In the U.S. App Store, Sora has fallen out of the top 100 free apps.
Reasons for the Decline
The decline is attributed 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 AI-based Vibes videos. In December, pressure from the startup Runway intensified, as its Gen 4.5 model outperformed competitors in independent tests.
Secondly, OpenAI's product faced copyright infringement issues. Users were creating videos featuring popular characters like SpongeBob and Pikachu, prompting the company to tighten restrictions.
In December, the situation stabilized after a deal with Disney was reached, allowing users to generate videos with the studio's characters. However, this did not lead to an increase in downloads.
It’s worth noting that in October, deepfakes featuring Sam Altman overran Sora.