OpenAI's Sora Dominates Charts Before Full Launch

OpenAI's highly anticipated AI video generation tool Sora has achieved remarkable success even before its official public release. Launched exclusively in the US and Canadian App Stores on September 30, the app garnered 56,000 downloads on its first day, quickly climbing to third place in overall app rankings. Within two days, installations reached 164,000, rivaling Elon Musk's Grok and surpassing ChatGPT's initial performance.

Limited Access Fuels Demand

The current invite-only beta phase, combined with geographic restrictions, has created intense demand. Reports indicate invitation codes are being resold for up to $70 on secondary markets—comparable to premium electronics like AirPods. This scarcity mirrors past tech frenzies, with users comparing code acquisition difficulty to "securing Spring Festival tickets."

Viral Capabilities Drive Adoption

Sora’s standout feature is its ability to generate 4K vertical videos from text prompts. Early adopters demonstrated this by creating viral content like a "cyber panda DJ" animation complete with physically accurate reflections. A meme featuring OpenAI’s CEO reportedly gained millions of shares, amplifying organic reach beyond traditional marketing.

Internally, some employees critique the focus on entertainment over "solving big human problems," though many privately shared access codes—highlighting broad appeal.

Industry Impact Ahead of Schedule

Analysts predict Sora could trigger 300,000 daily downloads post-launch, accelerating disruption in short-form video production. Competitors like Claude (78th place) and Microsoft Copilot (19th) lag significantly behind in adoption rates.

OpenAI has begun expanding GPU infrastructure to handle anticipated traffic surges but hasn’t disclosed a timeline for removing access restrictions.

Key Points:

• Explosive Growth: 56K Day-1 downloads; 164K in 48 hours despite invite-only model.
• Technical Prowess: Generates cinematic 4K videos from single text prompts.
• Black Market Boom: Invitation codes resold at $70+, reflecting unprecedented demand.
• Market Shift: Positions OpenAI to lead AI-driven video creation ahead of rivals.