Sam Altman addressed the controversy surrounding OpenAI’s social video app Sora. The app is littered with strange videos that range from harmless skits to showing offensive imagery. A good chunk of this content uses the likeness of fictional characters and dead celebrities. He admitted to being surprised at the backlash surrounding the app ignoring basic copyright law. Which is insanity.
His company ChatGPT has gotten hit with multiple lawsuits over how OpenAI gathered or used copyrighted works. How could he have not known that Sora would be a problem? Why didn’t a lawyer say anything before making the app available (invite only) on Apple’s App Store? Or did Sam ignore any legal advice? Which would be in character for the CEO of a tech company.
Misreading What Users Actually Want
Altman also expressed surprise that most users wanted more control over how their likeness is used for Sora’s cameos feature. Mainly that users want the option to prohibit anyone to use their likeness to spread misinformation, say offensive things, etc.
That surprise reveals a mentality where it’s important to disrupt the world around you first, ask questions later. He seems to expect that if you build a tool, people will adapt.
This is problematic in a medium like video, where hyper-realistic deepfakes can be used to manipulate people. OpenAI’s own policies for ChatGPT already forbid violating intellectual property or misusing likenesses. Yet the technology that powers Sora seems to be the exemption.
That Opt-in Policy
Sora originally had an opt-out policy. If a copyright holder didn’t explicitly ask OpenAI not to use their characters, those characters could be used freely. That policy is the source of most of the outrage.
Only days later, Altman reversed course, shifted to an opt-in system granting more control. That reversal doesn’t change the fact that his first move was to launch a video app that allowed unauthorized use.
Does Altman Even Know What Sora Is For?
Altman has admitted that OpenAI still lacks a clear revenue model for Sora. Which is also troubling considering the enormous costs involved powering AI video generation. He’s open to options where monetization could come through advertising or partnerships with rights holders. For now, there’s no concrete plans.
During his appearance at DevDay, Altman said he wanted Sora to be a showcase of the technology OpenAI is working on. That seems to be the problem. Sam Altman wants Sora to showcase Sora 2’s advanced video generation technology. Yet he doesn’t understand or care that not having safety guardrails or stricter adherence to copyright will lead to a legal nightmare for his company. He wants to compete with TikTok but doesn’t understand why the platform is so popular. He’s just mimicking what he thinks people want without seeing the nuances of why users engage with certain content like they do.
Altman Is Out of Touch and That’s Dangerous
Sam Altman’s approach to Sora is a case study in arrogance. He launched an app that allows users to make a 10 second video of anyone doing, saying anything. Then he has to have the nerve to act shocked by the backlash.
If OpenAI wants to keep pushing how AI shapes culture, having Altman in charge will lead to its downfall. Building power without constraints is reckless. If you lead in generative AI, your first job isn’t to dream bigger. It’s keeping your own creation from burning you down.
