OpenAI is reportedly in talks to license its Sora video-generation model to a stealth startup, potentially giving the technology a new life after the company discontinued its consumer app and web experiences in April 2026. OpenAI also planned to discontinue the API, citing high computing costs and risks of misuse.
The startup was co-founded by Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg and Bill Peebles, Sora’s former research lead at OpenAI. It plans to access and adapt the model to develop and sell specialized software and services for filmmakers, shifting Sora’s focus from a broad consumer product to professional creative tools.