OpenAI’s Text-to-Video Tool Sora Leaked by Beta Testers

OpenAI leaked an early version of its Sora video tool, showcasing its advanced text-to-video AI features. The “Sora PR Puppets” demonstrated its capabilities before their removal.

Someone leaked OpenAI’s beta testers’ version of its Sora video creation tool online, so now people can’t use it. These artists, known as “Sora PR Puppets,” demonstrated to the public how anyone could utilize Sora’s sophisticated text-to-video technology to create AI-generated videos.

The three-hour leak has cast doubt on OpenAI’s relationship with artists and its early access program. Still, the company hasn’t confirmed what the leak was about yet. It did, however, quickly block all users of the tool.

On Tuesday, the testers went on the Hugging Face platform to express their anger at OpenAI’s early access program. Two of the most common comments criticizing the company for using them were “unpaid R&D” and “PR puppets.”

OpenAI promised them the opportunity to be co-creators and red teamers. Still, the company’s strict content approval rules limited their freedom, requiring approval for any video they made before sharing. The artists used the submission process as an additional outlet for their anger, as they felt it was unfair and unreasonable not to reward them properly.

The artists who caused the leak also said they didn’t like how the company generally controls and legitimizes art and creativity. They claimed that OpenAI was utilizing Sora’s work to enhance its tool, and they demanded tangible support for the arts.

The group sent out a very clear message: “ARTISTS ARE NOT YOUR UNPAID R&D.” They expressed their anger at the use of artists as free labor. Furthermore, they found it peculiar that OpenAI holds a staggering $150 billion in value, particularly when the individuals assisting Sora in its growth received far less attention.

OpenAI Halts Sora Tool Rollout After Leak

After the leak, OpenAI stopped letting everyone use the Sora tool. The company had said that it would be available in early February. It said that testers would not be required to give feedback or use the tool if they chose not to participate in the preview.

A spokesperson for OpenAI, Niko Felix, said that hundreds of artists have helped build Sora and that the company will continue to support them through grants and events for creative professionals.

With the Sora leak, users were said to be able to make 10-second videos with a resolution of up to 1080p. Most of the videos had OpenAI’s logo on them.

But there was a catch: even though the tool looked useful, this event led to bigger discussions about corporate responsibility, fair pay for creators, and the morality of early access programs in the tech industry.