OpenAI is accelerating its transformation from a technology provider to an application platform service provider. According to Wired magazine, the company is preparing to launch a standalone video social media app called Sora2, and has integrated instant shopping features with Etsy and Shopify in ChatGPT, fully entering the consumer market.
Sora2: A Pure AI-Generated "TikTok"
According to internal sources, the Sora2 app that OpenAI is about to launch is highly similar to TikTok in design, using a vertical video stream and swipe browsing interaction method. However, the core difference is that all content is generated by AI, and users cannot upload external videos or photos. The app allows users to generate video clips up to 10 seconds long and provides social features such as likes, comments, and "recreation." OpenAI hopes this app will allow the public to experience the huge potential of AI video directly.
This move is seen as a unique opportunity for OpenAI amid uncertain prospects for TikTok's U.S. business, enabling it to directly compete with tech giants like Meta and Google. To address issues of portrait rights, the app includes an identity verification feature that allows users to authorize the use of their portraits for creation and receive relevant notifications.
Instant Shopping: Turning Conversations into Purchases Directly
In another front, OpenAI's commercialization is more direct. Through cooperation with Etsy and Shopify, ChatGPT users can now purchase items directly within conversations without having to jump to external websites. This "instant shopping" feature was developed in collaboration with payment company Stripe, aiming to convert the vast conversation traffic of ChatGPT into actual commercial transactions.
Michelle Fradin, OpenAI's product leader, stated that the company's vision is to make ChatGPT not only provide information but also help users complete tasks in the real world. This feature currently supports the purchase of single items in the U.S. market, and the company plans to expand it to multi-item shopping carts and cover more regions in the future. The market has reacted positively to this collaboration, and after the announcement, the stock prices of Etsy and Shopify both rose significantly.
Copyright Disputes: The Biggest Challenge Facing OpenAI
Despite the promising future, OpenAI's aggressive strategy has not been without resistance. Its copyright handling approach for Sora2—defaulting to using copyrighted content unless the rights holder actively "opts out"—has raised strong concerns among content creators and film companies. OpenAI has informed major film companies of its "opt-out" process, but it has refused to accept "bulk" copyright exclusion requests, requiring rights holders to report each infringing content individually.
This move comes at a time when AI companies are experiencing tense relations with Hollywood, as major studios like Disney have already filed lawsuits over similar issues. OpenAI's copyright strategy will undoubtedly make it the center of a new wave of legal and public opinion storms, indicating that the confrontation between AI and intellectual property rights will become even more intense.
