Benchmarking Google Gemini? OpenAI plans to launch video generation feature in ChatGPT
OpenAI is planning to integrate its video-generating AI tool Sora into ChatGPT, marking a significant shift in the company's product strategy.
According to The Information, the integration plan will be implemented soon. Behind this move is OpenAI's urgent need, under competitive pressure, to boost ChatGPT’s user numbers.
Google's Gemini app already poses a direct competitive threat to ChatGPT by offering video generation capabilities via its Veo AI.
Bringing Sora’s capabilities into ChatGPT is expected to further increase the app’s weekly active users. Currently, ChatGPT has about 920 million weekly active users, still short of the 1 billion target set by OpenAI last year. At the same time, this integration will significantly raise OpenAI's AI inference and server operating costs.
Sora standalone app's hype fades; integration with ChatGPT may be a breakthrough
Sora is not debuting for the first time. OpenAI first previewed this video-generating AI in February 2024, officially launched it to the public on an independent website in December that year, and released a supporting mobile app in September last year.
However, the standalone Sora app's performance failed to sustain. After launch, it quickly topped Apple's App Store free chart, but the hype soon faded, and its ranking has now dropped to 165th place.
According to Bloomberg, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mentioned in internal talks that the proportion of Sora users sharing videos publicly is very low.
Integrating Sora into ChatGPT aims to rekindle the appeal of video generation functionalities by capitalizing on ChatGPT’s massive user base. OpenAI says the standalone Sora app will continue to operate, but its long-term positioning remains unclear.
Recreating the Miyazaki "Ghibli" moment, but computational costs linger
OpenAI holds high hopes for this integration, partially because there’s precedent. In March last year, many users flooded ChatGPT to generate Miyazaki "Ghibli" style portrait photos, sparking viral spread and pushing the company’s computing resources to their limits.
(Image: Altman X avatar, Miyazaki "Ghibli" style)
Since then, ChatGPT has become a vital AI image-generation tool for individual and corporate clients, including the home and apparel design sectors.
Video generation consumes far more computational power than image generation. If a similar viral effect occurs, OpenAI will face even greater computational stress.
According to The Information, the company expects its AI inference costs just to run ChatGPT and other products will total over $225 billion by 2030, and has started to stockpile enough computing resources to handle explosive demand spikes from new functionalities.
Frequent product strategy adjustments, ChatGPT becomes main focus for resource investment
This integration plan also reflects OpenAI's frequent recent adjustments in product strategy. Not long ago, the company withdrew its plan to directly introduce shopping features within ChatGPT (just six months after announcing it).
Facing relentless competition from Google and others, OpenAI is now concentrating more resources on ChatGPT as its core product.
Integrating Sora into ChatGPT is both a practical path to activate existing users and reach the 1 billion weekly active goal, as well as a strategic move to take on Gemini head-to-head in the video-generation market.
Risk Disclosure and DisclaimerThe market carries risks; investment requires caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account users’ unique investment goals, financial situations, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article suit their specific circumstances. Investments made accordingly are at one's own risk.