OpenAI is pulling the plug on its first-generation video tool: Sora 1 will be shut down for US users on March 13, 2026. After that, Sora 2 is the only option.
What’s happening exactly?
Starting March 13, Sora 1 will no longer be available in the US. Sora 2 becomes the default. If you’re in a country where Sora 2 isn’t available yet, you’ll keep access to Sora 1 – until Sora 2 rolls out there.
One detail that’s easy to miss: image generation inside Sora goes away entirely with the shutdown. You can still create images in ChatGPT, just not directly in Sora anymore.
Back up your data – now
If you’ve created videos or other content in Sora 1, export them now. OpenAI says they’ll send an email before the final shutdown date. Data export will remain available for a limited time after the sunset – but after that window closes, your content is gone.
The timeline is tight. If you’ve been actively using Sora 1: don’t wait for the email, back up now.
My take
The Sora 1 sunset isn’t a surprise – OpenAI has been preparing the transition for months. But it marks a pattern we’ll see more often in the AI industry: models and products that were revolutionary just recently get shut down before many users have properly explored them.
For content creators, the takeaway is simple: always export, never assume platform content will be there forever.
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