When OpenAI first launched Sora, I was hyped.
It was the drop that made me pull the trigger on the $250/month ChatGPT Pro subscription—specifically to access what I thought was about to change everything.
But here’s the truth:
It ended up being a frustrating experience. I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t get it to do what I needed. And while I was burning through tokens, I found myself turning instead to Kling AI, which to this day I still consider the best video AI on the market.
So when OpenAI announced Sora 2, I didn’t immediately jump for joy. I’ve learned to temper expectations.
But I did watch the full launch presentation. And honestly? It was one of OpenAI’s better reveals.
Watch the full Sora 2 Release Video
A Return to the Imagination Engine
Sora 2 is being framed as “the most powerful imagination engine ever built,” and while that sounds like marketing hyperbole, I’ll admit—it’s got some real promise this time.
Let’s break down what’s actually new:
- Full audio + video generation (dialogue, sound effects, ambient noise)
- Major leap in realism (especially with motion, body mechanics, and scene control)
- The new Cameo feature that lets you insert yourself (or your dog, or an object) into any generated video
- A new social app for sharing and remixing Sora creations
And the vibe of the presentation was surprisingly… fun? It felt like the team was genuinely excited, showing off remixes of AI perfume ads, crazy kickflip physics, and even anime renderings of their pets.
1. The Cameo Feature? I’m Into It.
This is the part that genuinely caught my attention. You upload a short video clip, and now your likeness can be pulled into any prompt like a text token. And you stay in control—setting permissions, approving who can use it, and guiding how it represents you.
That’s cool. That’s something I would absolutely use in my storytelling work.
But I also get why this will be polarizing.
The realism is getting too good, too fast. And for a lot of people, that line between “creative tool” and “deepfake territory” is going to feel blurry. Especially when you can render your own face into a fake ad and still have full rights to it.
The tech is amazing. The ethical implications are messy. That tension isn’t going anywhere.
2. The App Itself? Interesting, But I Have Questions.
I love watching AI-generated video. There’s something magical about seeing weird, bold, imperfect ideas come to life without a camera crew.
The Sora app looks like it could be a cool place to share and remix those creations. But here’s the catch—it sounds like it’ll be limited to Sora-generated content only, which kind of narrows the pool. And it's an invite only network, at leeast to start.
Even with this big leap, I still think some of the most interesting AI video work is being done with other tools and models—Kling, Runway, hybrid workflows, audio-first experiments, etc.
So if Sora’s social feed becomes too much of a walled garden, I worry it’ll limit what could otherwise be a very real creative movement.
Still… seeing remix culture built into the platform is a very smart move.
What Does Sora 2 Mean for Creatives?
If you’re in music, art, design, brand storytelling, or even startup land—you should at least be aware of what Sora 2 makes possible now.
The generation quality? Much stronger.
The story control? Way more refined.
The vibe? Surprisingly human.
This isn’t just “AI video.” This is a networked tool for creative participation.
And that’s the part that excites me the most.
Not because it replaces anything I do—but because it removes friction for people who might never have made something otherwise.
So… Should I Renew My ChatGPT Pro?
That’s where I’m at.
Sora 2 is currently rolling out in invite-only waves through the new app. If you’re on iOS in the U.S. or Canada, you might be able to get in soon (if you haven’t already). If not, you’ll need to wait… or know someone.
But the real question is: Is this enough to get me to re-subscribe to ChatGPT Pro?
Honestly… maybe.
Because one thing that is constant in AI right now is this:
Every few months, the frontier models leapfrog each other.
If you wait too long, you miss the moment.
Even if Kling is still my go-to for serious video generation work, I think it’s time to give Sora another shot. At the very least, to experiment. To remix. To see how far the creative potential can be pushed.
Final Thoughts
I’m still skeptical of the hype. But I’m also still obsessed with the idea that we’re entering a phase where tools like this don’t just help us make things faster—they help more people make things, period.
And that’s what I’m here for.
Whether you’re a brand builder, an artist, a musician, or a curious weirdo like me who loves to test the edge of every new thing—
Sora 2 might be worth a look.
Just don’t let the tech do all the imagining for you.