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OpenAI Shifts to Pay-Per-Use for Sora Video Generation

AI OpenAI Sora Monetization Video Generation Artificial Intelligence Deepfake
October 31, 2025
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Article Summary

OpenAI is pivoting to a pay-per-use system for Sora, responding to the platform's unsustainable economics. Lead Sora team member Bill Peebles acknowledged that users, particularly power users, were consistently exceeding the free generation allowances (100 for Pro, 30 for all). To address this, OpenAI is offering the option to buy extra video generations through the Apple App Store, initially at a cost of $4 for ten extra generations. This pricing fluctuates based on video length, resolution, and other factors. This move comes as OpenAI attempts to scale Sora and develop an AI-powered creator economy, recently adding features like clip stitching and deepfake avatars. OpenAI plans to pilot monetization for creators soon, allowing rights holders to charge for the use of popular characters in generated videos. The company’s shift reflects a recognition of the challenges in maintaining a free-flowing, resource-intensive AI video generation platform.

Key Points

  • OpenAI is introducing a pay-per-use system for Sora video generation.
  • The existing free generation limits are unsustainable, driven by heavy usage from power users.
  • Users can now purchase additional video credits through the Apple App Store, initially for $4 per ten generations.

Why It Matters

This shift signals a fundamental change in OpenAI's approach to Sora, moving from a freely accessible model to one predicated on monetization. It’s a critical development for the future of generative AI video and reflects the increasing pressure on companies to find sustainable business models for these computationally expensive technologies. For professionals, this indicates a growing trend in AI development – a move towards value-based access, rather than purely open access, and highlights the challenges of scaling AI creative tools.

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