Sora AI Video Generator Review: Access, Strengths, and Limitations

OpenAI is already making waves for generating text and images, but now, many creators are using its advanced AI model Sora to make quick videos.

You'll get a full and honest review of both Sora AI video generator and its latest version, which is 2.0, along with the pros and cons, and the creative use cases to try. So, let's get started.

Part 1. What Is Sora and How to Access It

Sora is the AI video generation model from OpenAI. It has been hyped for a long time. People in the United States seem to have had access for some time, but you can now access it from any region.

If you use ChatGPT, you can go directly to sora.com. If you have an existing ChatGPT subscription, you can log in with the same account and use the same plan with Sora. You need to be on at least the Plus plan to create videos. With the cheapest plan, you can create about 17 5-second videos. After that, you can use a relaxed mode, one video at a time.

This relaxed mode is similar to Midjourney's relaxed mode, where generation likely takes longer, but you can still continue creating videos even after your credits run out.

Part 2. How to Use Sora AI Video Generator

On the Sora AI video generator main interface, the prompt box at the bottom is where you type your prompt, within the platform's guardrails. But first, you need to select Video here instead of Image.

Next, you can set an aspect ratio. Sora allows you to generate videos at 480p and 720p that can be 5 or 10 seconds long. The $200 per month Pro tier allows 15-second videos at higher resolution.

To generate a video, describe your idea to go from text to video. After you generate one, it goes to your drafts folder. To find drafts, click the notification icon at the top right, and you'll see your saved projects.

From there, you can click on a video that has been generated and then share or download it.

Sora AI Image to Video Generator

You'll also notice that there is a plus icon in the prompt box, which allows you to upload your own images.

However, images cannot be photorealistic. They need to be a bit more stylized, or they can be images of your pets or images of locations.

But it's the weakest aspect of Sora. Sora's strongest capabilities are text-to-video and using cameos, but you can still experiment with this feature. Lip sync works in some cases.

You can experiment with these options. As long as the images are not super photorealistic, you probably won't get rejected.

If you want to create your own cameo, you can't do it on a desktop. You have to use an iPhone. This allows you to insert your own likeness and your voice into a video.

Remix and Re-cut

There are two amazing features on the Sora AI video generator called Remix and Re-cut. If you see a video that you like on the platform, you can remix it. This creates a new video with a very similar context.

You can replace dialogue while keeping the same scene, characters, and environment. The AI generates a new version with altered dialogue but consistent visuals.

You can also edit a video using the Re-cut option, as you do with a video editor in a timeline.

These features are included as part of the core experience and work well.

Part 3. How to Access the Sora 2 AI Video Generator

Now, there is a new version of Sora, which is Sora 2 AI video generator, but to access it, to be honest, it does require a bit of work, so be prepared for that.

First of all, it's only available right now in the United States, Canada, and a handful of other countries, but you can still access it on a desktop browser if you use a VPN and change your location to one supported by the Sora AI video generator. Laws around VPNs differ by country, so be mindful of that. A VPN allows you to change your location.

A Chrome extension works best here as you are using the tool on a browser. When you install one, it will be available in your address bar after you pin it there. If you select it, you can see from the list that you can select the USA or any other supported country.

After that, all you have to do is go back to the Sora website, and you should be able to see the Sora 2 AI video generator. Actually accessing the website is going to be your first hurdle.

Sora 2 Invite Codes and Access

The next and most challenging hurdle is that you need an invite code because it's currently invite-only.

These rules come from OpenAI for now and may change in the near future.

When you're on Sora 2, you're probably going to see the invite screen. If you're looking for codes, go to X, use the search bar, and type "Sora codes." You might see some of them pop up that you could redeem, so if you're lucky, you might find one.

Another option is to visit the Sora AI Reddit page. On Reddit, type "Sora codes," and there should be a megathread where many people are posting codes. It's recommended that you do not buy codes because you're likely to get scammed.

You can see that someone recently posted a code that you can try to redeem. Refreshing the page might help if you're lucky. You can also go to OpenAI's Discord channel and ask for codes there.

After getting an invite code, you would then click on Enter Invite Code.

This is where you type it in, and then you click on Join New Sora.

The page will refresh, and congratulations, you officially have access to Sora 2.

You can also download Sora 2 from the iOS App Store. It's only available for iPhone for now. If you're going to use it on your phone, that's the only way to create cameos. This allows you to use your likeness and your voice to generate videos. You can download the Sora app via the App Store, but it does require some additional work.

Paid Access to Sora 2 AI Video Generator on Other Platforms

If you don't want to deal with invite codes, you can go the paid route because OpenAI has released an API, which means that other companies have been implementing Sora 2 on their platforms.

One platform you can use is Freepik. It provides access to Sora 2 Pro and generates videos without watermarks. You'll need a paid Freepik premium plan.

Using Sora 2 through Freepik is expensive in terms of credits. Videos up to 12 seconds long can cost around 4,800 credits. Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro are available there.

Other paid platforms include Crea, which offers unlimited usage for a week, and Vit Studio, which also has access to Sora 2.

Part 4. Sora AI Video Generator Strengths and Weaknesses

Like any other tool, the Sora 1 and Sora 2 AI video generators have a few ups and downs, so let's discuss them.

Sora AI Video Generator Strengths

Sora 2 is extremely good at generating very realistic and well-timed lip sync. It is on par with Veo 3. However, when it comes to native audio generation, this is not just about dialogue but also other sound effects. In this area, Sora beats Veo 3 because the audio sounds extremely believable.

Sora automatically creates jump cuts with full consistency. This is impressive because it's not just keeping the character consistent. It understands the entire world the character exists in and keeps everything consistent with every new jump cut that gets generated.

You can control these jump cuts by adding different timestamps in your prompt to specify which camera angles should appear. This means you don't have to generate separate images for different camera angles. You can specify everything in the prompt and get multiple camera angle cuts in a single video.

Videos generated with Sora 2 look extremely realistic. It has some of the best motion dynamics and physics seen in any AI video model. In some cases, it looks indistinguishable from reality, which can be concerning because it becomes harder to tell what's real and what's fake.

Cameos are another strong feature. Being able to star in a video with yourself or with friends unlocks a lot of creative potential. This is definitely a strength.

Sora AI Video Generator Limitations

Sora 2 is far from perfect. This isn't always a weakness, but more of a limitation. One major limitation is resolution. You can only generate 480p videos unless you're willing to pay $200 for the Pro version. At 480p, the quality looks low, and the standard should be at least 720p. It remains to be seen how this will be handled going forward.

Another issue is a constant flickering or warping effect. Once you notice it, it's hard to unsee, and it appears in most generations. In some cases, it's less noticeable, but it does show up from time to time.

Another limitation is the inability to remove watermarks. Some people see this as a positive because it helps distinguish real content from generated content. However, for professional use, such as creating a short film or a music video, watermarks are a problem. There should at least be an option to remove them.

Censorship has also been heavily increased due to intellectual property concerns. If you're using Sora 2, keep in mind that censorship is strict. Avoid generating content involving intellectual property, or you will encounter content violation errors.

Another major limitation is the inability to upload photorealistic people. When you click the plus icon and select an image that appears photorealistic, you receive an error stating that uploads of photorealistic people are not supported. This is a major issue because it prevents consistent storytelling with custom characters. Without the ability to upload character images, professional storytelling becomes difficult.

The only way to maintain consistency is through cameos, which means using images of yourself or your friends. This is a significant limitation and something to keep in mind.

Part 5. Sora AI Video Generator Creative Use Cases

Are you ready to see some creative use cases for using the Sora AI video generator? Here are a few of them:

• Low-Quality Realistic Amateur Video Footage
• Outlandish Food Review Videos
• Professional and Hilarious Advertisements
• Talent Shows
• Vlogging From Different Time Periods
• Create a New Olympic Sport
• Unboxing Videos
• ASMR Style Videos
• 80s or 90s Style Commercials
• YouTube Style Prank Videos
• Reality TV Show Concepts
• Street Interview Existential Crisis
• Stand-Up Comedy
• Deep Ocean Footage
• Bodycam Footage
• Script Images With Timestamps for Jump Cuts
• Cameos for Singing, Beatboxing, and Music

Part 6. FAQs of the Sora AI Video Generator

Conclusion on the Sora AI Video Generator

That brings you to the end of this article. Many people are using the Sora AI video generator, and the Sora 2 feels more like a testing tool right now. It gives a glimpse into the powerful capabilities of artificial intelligence that could redefine different forms of media.

It will be interesting to see where Sora 2 goes next. There's also anticipation around Veo 4 and how that version improves things. Advancements in artificial intelligence continue at a fast pace, and because of that, the future remains uncertain.