Sora Surges Past ChatGPT in iOS Downloads, Driven by Deepfake Trend
AI
Sora
OpenAI
ChatGPT
App Downloads
Deepfakes
Tech News
8
Deepfake Momentum
Media Hype
9/10
Real Impact
8/10
What is the Viqus Verdict?
We evaluate each news story based on its real impact versus its media hype to offer a clear and objective perspective.
AI Analysis:
Sora’s immediate success and the inherent viral nature of deepfakes suggest a sustained media trend and significant investment interest, justifying a high impact score. While the overall hype around AI is already substantial, Sora’s demonstrable results amplify this excitement considerably.
Article Summary
OpenAI’s Sora application has achieved a remarkable first week of performance on iOS, outstripping ChatGPT in downloads. According to app intelligence provider Appfigures, Sora garnered 627,000 downloads in its initial seven days, compared to ChatGPT’s 606,000. While the comparison is slightly skewed due to ChatGPT’s U.S.-only launch and Sora’s current availability in the U.S. and Canada, the numbers still indicate a significant level of consumer interest. Daily downloads peaked at 107,800 on October 1st, demonstrating immediate traction. The app’s rise is particularly notable because of its ability to generate realistic deepfakes, leading to both impressive creative output and ethical concerns, exemplified by Zelda Williams requesting users to cease sending her AI-generated images of her father. This trend highlights the immediate potential and risk associated with Sora's capabilities. Appfigures also noted that despite being invite-only, the app experienced steady adoption since its September 30, 2025 launch.Key Points
- Sora has achieved over 627,000 iOS downloads in its first week, exceeding ChatGPT’s 606,000 downloads.
- Consumer interest in Sora is driven by its ability to generate realistic deepfakes, presenting both opportunities and ethical challenges.
- Despite being invite-only, Sora has seen substantial daily downloads, peaking at 107,800 on October 1, 2025.