OpenAI has released Sora, its buzzy generative AI tool capable of creating hyper-realist videos.

In a post issued on Monday, OpenAI said that the text-to-video generator is available for public use. An account must be made to use Sora, though sign-ups have been temporarily disabled due to heavy traffic.

The public launch of the tool comes as the entertainment industry grapples with deployment of technology potentially capable of slashing productions costs. Mainstream adoption in Hollywood has been slow but steady, with Lionsgate in September announcing a partnership with Runway in a deal that will see the New York-based AI startup train a new generative AI model on company content, which will be used to assist with behind-the-scenes production processes. This was followed by James Cameron joining the board of directors for Stability AI creator of Stable Diffusion, an image- and video-focused model that is among those being closely watched by many in Hollywood, particularly in the visual effects industry in a major coup for the company. Videos of up to 1080p resolution and 20 seconds long can be created in widescreen, vertical or square aspect ratios, according to the blog post. Users can upload their own assets to extend, remix, and blend videos on top of generating entirely new content with a text prompt.

OpenAI said that the tool will be included in existing ChatGPT Plus and Pro accounts at no additional cost. Under the subscription, users can generate up to 50 videos at 480p resolution or fewer videos at a higher resolution.

Last month, OpenAI said that ChatGPT now sees more than 200 million weekly active users. Its planning to introduce ChatGPT Pro, a new $200 monthly subscription tier that includes unlimited access to OpenAI o1, GPT-4o, and Advanced Voice mode. Itll continue to offer a Plus tier for $20 per month, which includes early access to new features.

Sora was initially limited to a pool of safety testers, who reported on vulnerabilities related to misinformation and bias, and visual artists, designers and filmmakers, who gave feedback on improvements

A small group of artists testing Sora in November leaked access to the tool in protest of the companys treatment of them as free bug testers and PR puppets. In an open letter, they stated, Hundreds of artists provide unpaid labor through bug testing, feedback and experimental work for the program for a $150B valued company.

While there are legal and labor protections, text-to-video tools are expected to have major applications in areas like visual effects and animation. Some industry folk have already adopted the technology into their workflows.

A study surveying 300 leaders across Hollywood, issued earlier this year, reported that three-fourths of respondents indicated that AI tools supported the elimination, reduction or consolidation of jobs at their companies. Over the next three years, it estimated that nearly 204,000 positions will be adversely affected. Sound engineers, voice actors, concept artists and workers in visual effects were cited as particularly vulnerable.

OpenAI no longer discloses the sources of data used to train its systems. Artists, authors and publications have sued the Sam Altman-led company over allegations it illegally pilfered their work without consent and compensation. Courts ruling against fair use a legal doctrine that allows use of copyrighted works without a license could have major implications for the AI leader.