OpenAI unveiled its first-ever video-generation model last week. Named Sora, the software can generate complex, minute-long video footage based on written prompts. Taking its first stab at generative AI video, the maker of image generator Dall-E and chatbot ChatGPT made quite the impression with hyper-realistic sample clips. The striking photorealism exhibited by Sora has caused as much excitement as apprehension, leading to widespread industry debate.
A grandmother hosting an instructional cooking show somewhere in rural Italy, a drone shot of waves crashing against the cliffs of Big Sur in California, a stylish lady walking down neon-clad streets in Tokyo, these are some of the mind-blowing Sora shorts OpenAI has just made public. Contrary to early AI-generated videos whose distorted visuals and oddities shattered all pretensions of realism immediately, Sora can simulate coherent and consistent scenes imitating the real world like never before. Photorealism isn’t all Sora can do, as its versatility also allows the software to generate Pixar-style animated cutscenes and psychedelic clips.
Sudden objects appearing within the frame, bizarre hand gestures, and other peculiarities still give away the artificiality of these AI-generated clips. Tech luminaries like Elon Musk expressed scepticism about the model’s ability to predict and reproduce accurate physics. To the untrained eye, however, such anomalies are so minimal as to be almost indiscernible. Users browsing the web without intently looking for AI-generated content might not even think twice about trusting what their eyes can see. Soon enough, Sora may reach even more photorealistic heights, causing concern that imperceptible deepfakes could spread like wildfire on the internet.
Based on a simple prompt, Sora has been able to generate genuine-looking historical footage of a Californian town during the gold rush. The ethical implications of this short clip raised eyebrows among historians and history buffs, given the impact that video-generation software could potentially have on our collective consciousness. A recent controversy over AI rewriting history added fuel to the fire. From female popes to African-American Founding Fathers, Google Gemini got slammed for creating inaccurate historical images. After receiving complaints over its misrepresentation of history, Google paused its image generator altogether.
In an election year where over 4 billion individuals are expected to go to the polls, the political ramifications of OpenAI’s latest tool are just as far-reaching. Many voters harbour concerns regarding the disruptive potential of AI on the electoral system. Major corporations are acutely aware of this pitfall, and OpenAI is no less so. Alongside tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon, Sam Altman’s company recently signed a collaborative initiative to combat the deceptive use of AI. All twenty signatories agreed to implement technological solutions to counteract any misleading materials that could derail the democratic process.
OpenAI reiterated its commitment to public safety by opting not to release Sora until a panel of experts in fields like misinformation, security, and bias assess the risks that come with the technology. Until further notice, this cutting-edge text-to-video model shall remain a research product. In addition to its red teamers, the San Francisco-based company also intends to collaborate with policymakers and artists before making the software accessible to the general public.
Artificial intelligence is a constant subject of contention in art. But the creative community is yet more divided over Sora. Prominent VFX artists called the software “kind of horrifying.” Others fear the industry could soon do away with human talent. This technological leap also garnered mixed reactions in gaming circles, despite industry giants like Rockstar Games and Ubisoft adopting AI-backed technology openly. Concurrently, the iGaming sector is making substantial investments in AI to identify and counter fraudulent activities.
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OpenAI diving into AI-generated video is not a first in tech, as many competing text-to-video tools have already hit the market. Still, Sora’s life-like level of detail is too uncanny to ignore. While the company has pledged to develop tools able to reveal a video was created on Sora, this technological leap forward remains as groundbreaking as it is ticklish.
