## OpenAI’s Sora: From Viral Sensation to Shifting Sands in the AI App Market
OpenAI’s much-hyped video-generation application, Sora, exploded onto the mobile scene, quickly captivating users and climbing to the pinnacle of the App Store charts last October. Positioned as a groundbreaking AI social network for video, its initial success was undeniable. However, recent data suggests this early wave of enthusiasm may be subsiding, with the app experiencing notable dips in both new downloads and user spending.
### The Meteoric Rise of an AI Innovator
### An Unprecedented Debut
Powered by OpenAI’s advanced Sora 2 video generation model, the iOS version of the app launched with astounding momentum. Despite its exclusive, invite-only access, it notched over 100,000 installations on its very first day. This rapid adoption propelled Sora to the coveted No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store, achieving the impressive milestone of one million downloads even faster than its famous sibling, ChatGPT. This initial performance was particularly remarkable given its limited availability and iOS-only presence at the time.
### Unraveling Traction: A Closer Look at the Decline
### The Data Tells a Story
In the weeks following its spectacular mobile debut, Sora’s trajectory has taken a noticeable downturn. Market intelligence firm Appfigures reports a significant 32% month-over-month decline in Sora’s downloads during December. This dip is particularly striking, as the holiday season typically provides a substantial boost for mobile applications, with new device activations and increased leisure time often leading to a surge in app installations.
The deceleration continued into January 2026, with installs plummeting another 45% month-over-month, settling at 1.2 million. Concurrently, consumer spending within the app mirrored this trend, dropping 32% month-over-month as of January, according to Appfigures. OpenAI has not yet offered a comment on these figures.
### Shifting App Store Fortunes
Globally, Sora’s app has accumulated 9.6 million downloads across both iOS and Android platforms, generating approximately $1.4 million in consumer spending to date. The United States accounts for the lion’s share of this revenue, contributing $1.1 million, followed by Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Thailand. Despite this overall figure, recent spending trends are concerning. This month saw $367,000 spent in Sora’s app, a decrease from December’s peak of $540,000.
On the competitive U.S. App Store, Sora has slipped out of the Top 100 overall free applications, now ranking at No. 101. While it still holds a respectable No. 7 position within the Photo & Video category, its performance on Google Play in the U.S. is less robust, placing it at No. 181 among free apps. While these numbers don’t signal an immediate demise, they certainly indicate a challenging period for the application.
### Behind the Drop: Factors Impacting Sora’s Momentum
The observed decline in Sora’s user engagement and financial performance is likely a confluence of several contributing factors.
### A Crowded AI Landscape
The burgeoning field of artificial intelligence is fiercely competitive. Sora faces formidable rivals, notably Google’s Gemini, particularly its Nano Banana model, which has been rapidly gaining popularity with its own AI app. Furthermore, Meta AI entered the fray with its “Vibes” video feature, boosting its own download numbers around the same time Sora was taking off, intensifying the battle for user attention in the AI-powered content creation space.
### The Copyright Conundrum
A significant hurdle for OpenAI has been navigating the complexities of copyright infringement within Sora. Initially, the company adopted an “opt-out” policy, requiring Hollywood studios and agencies to explicitly request that their intellectual property not be used for AI video generation. This approach predictably sparked a backlash from content creators. Without robust initial controls, users freely generated AI videos featuring iconic characters like SpongeBob and Pikachu, contributing to early adoption but also raising serious legal concerns. To mitigate these threats and appease the entertainment industry, Sora transitioned to an “opt-in” model, implementing stricter restrictions within the app.
While OpenAI recently announced a deal with Disney, allowing users to generate videos with its beloved characters, this partnership has yet to translate into a measurable increase in Sora installs or consumer spending. Indeed, some question the optics for Disney, considering the nature of some unauthorized, user-generated content that previously featured its characters.
### User Engagement and Content Limitations
Sora 2 launched amidst significant buzz, with many hailing it as a potential disruptor to social media, even an “AI TikTok.” However, it appears a segment of users harbored reservations about allowing others—even friends—to utilize their likeness for AI video creation. Coupled with the increased restrictions on using familiar commercial intellectual property, the platform’s content landscape might have become less appealing. Without the draw of recognizable faces or popular characters, user interest in Sora seems to have waned.
The path forward for Sora remains uncertain. Whether the app can reignite its early momentum through strategic copyright agreements, innovative new features, or a refreshed approach to user experience will ultimately determine its long-term viability in the dynamic AI application market.