TL;DR
OpenAI’s AI video app Sora, which launched invite-only on Sept. 30 and briefly topped app charts, has cooled: it now ranks around #71 in the US iOS Free Top Charts and #108 on the Play Store. Early metrics showed explosive uptake, but daily active users and engagement have since fallen from peak levels.
What happened
Sora launched as an invite-only app on September 30 and reached the top of the US App Store within three days, hitting its first million downloads in under five days. OpenAI relaxed the invite-only restriction in early November and released an Android version that reportedly recorded 470,000 installs on its first day. Similarweb counted roughly 1 million daily active users at that peak. The app’s rapid growth coincided with open debate over minimal initial guardrails and potential intellectual-property risks; some creators publicly criticized the service for allowing likenesses to be replicated. By December, activity had waned: Similarweb reported daily active users down to about 750,000, and Sensor Tower estimated average daily usage around 13 minutes versus about 90 minutes on TikTok. As of mid-January the app is fluctuating in the 70s on iOS charts and sits around #108 on the Play Store.
Why it matters
- Rapid early adoption shows strong short-term interest in AI-generated social feeds and distribution power of major AI firms.
- The drop in engagement highlights questions about sustainability of AI-only content compared with incumbent social platforms.
- Early lax content controls raised concerns about IP and likeness misuse, a potential regulatory and legal risk for platforms.
- Sora’s performance has been treated as a factor in broader financing and strategic moves around OpenAI, including investor interest.
Key facts
- Sora launched invite-only on September 30.
- Reached top of the US App Store within three days of launch.
- Recorded its first 1 million downloads in under five days.
- Android launch in early November saw about 470,000 installs on day one.
- Similarweb reported roughly 1 million daily active users at Sora’s peak.
- By December, Similarweb reported DAUs had fallen to about 750,000.
- Sensor Tower estimated average user time on Sora at 13 minutes per day (early December), compared with about 90 minutes on TikTok.
- As of mid-January the app was around #71 in the US iOS Free Top Charts and #108 on the Play Store.
- The app’s early success was tied to a reported $1 billion investment from Disney according to the source.
What to watch next
- Short-term chart movement and whether daily active users recover or keep declining (confirmed in the source).
- Any public announcements about OpenAI’s fundraising talks or finalized deals at the valuations mentioned — not confirmed in the source.
- Policy changes, moderation updates, or legal actions addressing likeness and IP concerns — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Sora: An OpenAI app that generates and shares short AI-created videos into a social feed; launched invite-only in late 2025.
- Daily Active Users (DAU): A common metric that counts unique users who engage with an app or service on a given day.
- App Store ranking: A position in an app marketplace’s charts, typically influenced by downloads, velocity, and engagement.
- AI-generated content: Media produced by machine learning models rather than directly by humans, which can range in quality and originality.
Reader FAQ
When did Sora launch?
Sora launched as an invite-only app on September 30.
How many users and installs did Sora reach at its peak?
The app hit 1 million downloads in under five days and Similarweb reported about 1 million daily active users at its peak; Android day-one installs were reported at roughly 470,000.
Has OpenAI closed a new funding round tied to Sora’s performance?
The source says OpenAI was in talks at valuations as high as $830 billion but notes no public announcements that any deals had closed.
Were creators and celebrities concerned about the app?
Yes. The source describes creator pushback and reports that Hollywood stars spoke out about likenesses being replicated on the service.
Why did Sora’s rankings and engagement fall?
Not confirmed in the source.
OPENAI OpenAI’s Sora now sits at #71 in the US App Store and #108 on Play Store. What just happened? January 14, 2026spencerdailey OpenAI’s Sora app, which lets users generate…
Sources
- OpenAI's Sora now sits at #71 in the US App Store and #108 on Play Store
- Sora
- Sora 2 by OpenAI: Generate Professional Videos from Text
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