OpenAI sets two-stage Sora shutdown with app closing April 2026 and API following in September

THE DECODER / 3/28/2026

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Key Points

  • OpenAI announced a two-stage shutdown of Sora, beginning with the app closing in April 2026.
  • The Sora API is expected to be turned off later, with the shutdown scheduled for September 2026.
  • The decision represents a strategic shift away from consumer/creative AI video generation and toward coding and enterprise-focused offerings.
  • The staged timeline implies developers and businesses will need to plan migration or replacement of Sora-dependent workflows before both endpoints are retired.

A photo of a dark room with a stack of retro TVs. Each TV is small and has a bright, shining screen. The TVs are stacked on top of each other, forming a pyramid shape. The screens all display the text "SORA". The room is dimly lit, with only the TVs providing light.

OpenAI is pulling the plug on Sora, its AI video generation tool, in a two-stage shutdown starting April 2026. The move signals a major strategic shift away from creative AI tools and toward coding and enterprise products.

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