What Is Sora 2? A Complete Guide to OpenAI’s Next-Gen Video Generation AI: New Features, Pricing, How to Use It, and Use Cases

Introduction

OpenAI has unveiled Sora 2, its next-generation AI video generation model, now at the forefront of the rapidly evolving video-AI landscape.

On social media, demo videos have been widely praised for their realistic texture and stable long-form generation, and more and more creators are reporting real-world use in production settings. Overseas media also highlights Sora 2’s strengths—especially improved physical consistency and greater editing flexibility compared to the previous model—often framing it as a tool that has entered a practical phase for areas like advertising production and education.

With capabilities that were difficult for earlier models—such as realistic physical motion, synchronized control of audio and video, and innovative features like bringing you or your pet into the video—Sora 2 is attracting attention from individual creators to corporate marketing teams.

In this article, we provide a step-by-step, in-depth overview of Sora 2, covering: what it is, how it differs from the previous model, key features, pricing, how to use it (app / web / invite code), comparisons with competitor models, use cases, and important considerations before adoption.

What Is Sora 2?

Sora 2 is a next-generation AI video generation platform developed by OpenAI. OpenAI announced its release in September 2025, positioning Sora 2 as a system that can automatically generate high-quality videos from input data such as text prompts and images.

Sora 2 has been described as the “GPT-3.5 moment” for AI video generation—a major turning point in both generation accuracy and expressive power. Compared with the first-generation Sora, Sora 2 shows major advances in areas such as:

• Reproducing physical realism in video
• Controlling motions of multiple characters
• Synchronizing video with audio

These improvements are expected to expand adoption across a wide range of fields, including video production, advertising, and education.

By significantly broadening what’s possible at the intersection of generative AI and video creation, Sora 2 supports diverse use cases—from social video and advertising content to music videos and educational content. In the 2025 updated version, Sora 2 also adds a personalized feature called Cameo, which allows you to insert your face/body or your pet into generated videos.

Sora 2 is also flexible in how it can be used—supporting web apps, mobile apps, and API integrations—making it valuable for both personal creative work and business operations.

Sora 2 vs. the Previous Model

Compared with the previous model, Sora 2 strengthens video generation in stages—improving accuracy, expressiveness, and controllability. Below is a summary of key differences.

Sora 2 represents a major evolution not only in visual expression, but also in its approach to optimizing overall video quality, positioning it as a leading solution in the AI-generated video space.

Key New Features in Sora 2

Sora 2 introduces many new features designed to strongly support creative workflows. Notable highlights include:

Cameo Feature

You can now bring yourself, your family, or characters into videos by inserting faces and bodies—dramatically improving personalization in AI video generation.

Audio-Synchronized Generation (Audio-Visual Integration)

Sora 2 can generate not only video, but also synchronize it with sound effects, dialogue, and music. Lip movement aligns with speech, significantly enhancing expressive quality.

Multi-Character Support + Realistic Physics

Sora 2 can reproduce natural interactions between two or more characters, enabling convincing motion even in complex scenes like sports or dance.

Stronger Multi-Device Support

In addition to PC browser workflows, Sora 2 can be operated and edited via mobile apps. The API has also been expanded, making it easier to embed into business systems.

With these features, Sora 2 is helping unlock a future where using generative AI becomes the default approach across video marketing, social content production, education, and advertising.

Core Characteristics of Sora 2

Sora 2 is a next-generation video generation model offering far greater expressiveness and control than conventional AI video tools. Key characteristics include:

• Improved physical realism
• Full synchronization of audio and video
• Generating the user’s own avatar
• Highly accurate, flexible style control
• Hybrid inputs (text + images)

As a result, Sora 2 is reshaping expectations not only in creative production, but also in marketing, education, and social media. Below are five signature capabilities that define Sora 2 and its practical impact.

Improved Physical Realism

Compared with the previous model, Sora 2 significantly enhances physical realism. It has gained an advanced ability to simulate real-world physical phenomena, including:

• Texture and motion of characters and objects
• Reflection of light and shadow
• Effects of gravity and fluids

For example, it can convincingly reproduce the effects of gravity when a person jumps, wind moving hair and clothing, and subtle details such as water droplets or flickering flames—dramatically improving visual immersion.

This enables high-quality adoption in production contexts that demand realism, including:

• Realistic PR videos and advertising
• Long-form animation production
• Cinematic sequences in games
• VFX-style content

A major strength of Sora 2 is that it substantially reduces the “artificial” feel often associated with AI-generated video.

Audio–Video Synchronization (Audio-Video Coupling)

Sora 2 enables not only video generation, but also audio generation and complete synchronization between audio and visuals. This makes it possible—end to end—to produce capabilities that were previously difficult, such as:

• Matching lip movement to speech
• Generating scene-specific sound effects
• Reproducing ambient environmental audio

For instance, when a character speaks, mouth movement and facial expressions naturally align with dialogue and vocal tone, avoiding discomfort for viewers.

In outdoor scenes, wind and animal sounds can be added automatically; in indoor scenes, sounds like footsteps or doors opening can be applied—significantly improving realism. Even without video-editing expertise, users can create professional-grade audio-integrated content, which is a major advantage for marketing teams and educational settings.

Insert Yourself or Objects via “Cameo”

Sora 2’s Cameo feature is an innovative capability that generates an avatar from inputs such as:

• Your facial photo
• Pet images
• Original characters
• Figures or objects

It then inserts that avatar as a character within the video. For example, you could appear as the main character in a fantasy film, or have your company’s original mascot run through a commercial—effects that traditionally required expensive VFX—now possible through AI generation alone.

Cameo can also be applied to:

• Brand promotions
• Virtual events
• Experiential fan content

This can meaningfully improve fan engagement, making it a powerful feature for personalized video production.

Diverse Styles, Composition, and Advanced Control

Sora 2 has also made major progress in the diversity and controllability of video expression—covering style, angles, and camera work. Using prompts and reference images, it can reproduce a wide range of styles such as:

• Pixar-like animation
• Neon cyberpunk
• Documentary style
• Professional music video aesthetics

In addition, prompts can control zooming, panning, handheld camera effects, subject positioning, and even spatial depth in backgrounds—allowing creators to reflect their production intent faithfully.

This means even advanced “shot design” approaches used by professional filmmakers can now be executed directly within AI-driven workflows.

Hybrid Input Support: Text/Image to Video

Sora 2 supports more than “text-to-video.” It also enables hybrid creation and editing by combining multiple media types such as:

• Images
• Video clips
• Photos for style reference

For example, you can upload a person’s photo and prompt: “Generate a video of them walking in nature with this composition,” enabling a moving character to be generated from a still image.

You can also input an existing video clip and modify its style or motion—supporting workflows that focus on enhancing existing assets rather than creating everything from scratch. This can significantly streamline production for promotional videos and social media posts.

How to Use Sora 2

Sora 2 can be used through both the mobile app and the web version, enabling professional-quality video generation from either smartphones or PCs. API integration is also available, supporting automation in development environments and embedding video generation into your services.

The basic workflow is straightforward:
Sign up → Select a mode → Enter a prompt or upload assets → Generate → Download / Share

The UI is designed to be intuitive, so even beginners can create professional-level videos in just a few steps.

Using the “Sora” App

With the official Sora smartphone app, you can generate videos in spare moments or check project progress while on the move.

Open the app and tap New Project, then choose the video style and scene. Next, select Enter Prompt or Upload Assets, configure generation settings, fine-tune in the preview, and tap Generate to produce a high-quality video automatically.

A key app advantage is tight integration with the smartphone camera—allowing you to capture and upload images or audio on the spot, then convert them via AI immediately.

After generation, you can also share to X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok with one tap via built-in social integrations.

Using the Web Version

The web version is optimized for large-screen PC workflows and is especially strong for complex editing and longer-form generation. After visiting the official site and registering, click Get Started.

Then, enter a text prompt or upload reference assets (images/videos) and adjust generation settings in detail.

The web version also supports project-based history management and version saving, which is particularly useful for teams such as ad agencies and video production companies working collaboratively. You can also generate scripts directly from the API tab and integrate them with internal systems.

Getting an Invite Code

Sora 2 is currently also offered as an invite-only beta before full general availability. To start using it, you need an invitation code obtained through a priority access application.

If you register on the official site via Join Waitlist, codes are sent out sequentially by email. For enterprise adoption or API use, a dedicated priority form is available, and in some cases invite codes may be issued within 2–3 business days.

Existing users may also be able to issue additional invite codes from My Account, sometimes receiving invite slots for 3–5 people. Since invite slots are added periodically, teams considering shared usage are encouraged to take advantage of this system.

Sora 2 Pricing Plans

Sora 2 currently uses a hybrid pricing model: free access + paid plans. The free plan is invite-only and allows limited testing under constraints such as generation time and resolution.

Paid plans include Pro and a Basic paid plan, with benefits such as longer videos, resolutions above 1080p, no watermark, and commercial usage rights. It’s important to understand the plan differences (ideally using a comparison table) and choose the best fit for either business or personal use.

Use the table below to determine which plan aligns with your goals:

Pricing and conditions may vary by region and distribution channel and may change in the future.

Sora 2 API Pricing

If you integrate Sora 2 into your own systems or applications via the API, the pricing model is expected to be based on usage-based billing + credits. While OpenAI has not yet fully published detailed API pricing publicly, multiple research sources report differences in cost depending on:

• Video length (seconds)
• Resolution
• Frame length
• Whether audio is included

For example, one report cites a figure of “30 credits per 10-second video (equivalent to about US$0.15)”, with higher consumption for longer and higher-resolution outputs. For enterprise use, volume contracts such as 10,000 credits per month have also been mentioned.

When using the API, it’s helpful to keep in mind:

• Credit usage varies by resolution, length, and audio inclusion
• Paid plans may be required for commercial usage and watermark removal
• Volume discount structures may be considered depending on API call volume
• Testing is important early on to forecast credit consumption and budget

As Sora 2’s API becomes more formally available, clearer pricing tables and plans may be released. Teams considering adoption are strongly encouraged to estimate costs based on expected usage volume, duration, and resolution.

Comparison With Other AI Video Generation Models

As of 2025, notable models in the AI video generation market include Google Veo 3, Meta Vibes, and Runway Gen-4, in addition to Sora 2. Each model has distinct strengths across dimensions such as:

• Generation quality
• Use cases
• Controllability
• Implementation cost
• Sharing and platform support

Use the comparison table below to understand where Sora 2 excels and where other models may be stronger:

Overall, Sora 2 offers an excellent balance of practicality, versatility, and ease of operation—especially appealing for EC/marketing and SNS-focused video generation. Veo 3 is best suited for high-end production, Runway Gen-4 for creativity and control, and Meta Vibes for short-form social formats.

To successfully adopt AI video generation, it is essential to define your use case, budget, and operational structure, then select the model that best fits your organization.

Three Real-World Use Cases of Sora 2

OpenAI’s next-generation AI video generator Sora 2 is gaining attention not merely as a video generation tool, but as a capability that significantly expands user creativity.

It can generate natural video, motion, and audio in an integrated way based on prompts, and also includes advanced capabilities such as transitions that connect multiple materials seamlessly. It can even support building multimedia videos that include Japanese audio. In Japan, users are actively sharing examples such as self-introduction videos for social media, turning presentation slides into videos, and applying it to anime-style content.

Below are three real user examples that illustrate Sora 2’s expressive power and practicality.

Use Case 1: Creating an “SNS self-introduction anime video” starring yourself

One of the most talked-about use cases is leveraging Sora 2’s ability to place yourself as a character in a video. X (formerly Twitter) user @shota7180 used Sora 2 to “bring themselves into an ideal anime world.”

While complex Japanese prompts may not always match perfectly, they commented that the ability to generate story-driven 2D/3D videos in one go was impressive.

Since Sora 2 can also automatically generate Japanese audio, it can naturally add narration and character voices—making it promising for social media posting and service introduction videos, and expanding its potential as a tool for self-expression.

Use Case 2: Converting presentation slides into a narrated video (automatic video conversion of slide materials)

Sora 2 is used not only for creative production, but also for turning business materials and educational content into video. For example, X user @Aki_aicreate imported slides created in MiriCanvas into Sora 2 and added a prompt such as “a Japanese woman explaining.”

As a result, a teaching video was generated in which a female narrator explains the slide content in natural Japanese. The pronunciation was described as very smooth, with a lower learning curve than conventional TTS tools—making it useful for educators, instructors, and marketers.

This demonstrates an evolution that could be seen as a definitive solution for converting documents into video.

Use Case 3: Impressive “seamless transitions” between different videos

One of Sora 2’s major advances is its ability to generate transitions that connect clips without visual discomfort. In a test video shared on X by @aisonesone, two completely different videos were interpolated naturally and reconstructed into a single flowing sequence.

The AI optimized subject changes, composition, and camera work—not simply stitching scenes together, but creating pacing and motion aligned with the overall narrative flow.

Since clip-to-clip processing is time-consuming for video editors, this feature suggests strong potential to dramatically streamline professional video production workflows.

Key Considerations When Using Sora 2

While Sora 2 is increasingly used across creative and marketing settings due to its powerful features, users should understand several important considerations. AI content generation involves many issues—licensing, ethical and legal implications, and technical constraints in API usage.

Here are four areas you should review to use Sora 2 safely and effectively: licensing, content restrictions, ethical guidelines, and API limitations.

Licensing

Videos generated with Sora 2 may be commercially usable in some cases, while in others they may be limited to non-commercial use with a watermark—especially under free plans or invite-only beta access. If you plan to use outputs for promotional or advertising materials, upgrading to a paid plan may be required.

If generated videos include third-party intellectual property elements (characters, logos, music, etc.), you must also verify rights. Neglecting rights clearance can lead to copyright infringement, reputational damage, and legal disputes. Carefully review the terms of use and ensure appropriate rights handling.

Content Restrictions

AI video generation can support diverse expression via prompting, but certain categories may be restricted—such as content that violates public standards, violent or discriminatory expression, or misleading fake footage. In Sora 2, prompts containing specific keywords or themes may be blocked automatically under policy, resulting in no video generation.

Using someone’s face or voice without consent in a deepfake-like manner is also typically restricted under guidelines. Organizations and creators should also review the rules of distribution platforms to ensure compliant production.

Ethics and Guidelines

As AI video generation advances, ethical concerns have become increasingly visible—especially around generating or copying real people’s faces and voices, which raises risks of misinformation and privacy violations.

Sora 2 includes OpenAI’s own ethical guidelines, and public content creation should follow these rules. Ethical operations help protect corporate value and maintain brand trust.

API Limitations

While the Sora 2 API is powerful, it may impose restrictions such as time limits, credit limits, and request caps depending on usage conditions. Free tiers and individual plans may limit daily call counts, resolution, or video length—potentially insufficient for high-volume generation or commercial scaling.

Because API specifications may change or maintenance may occur without notice, embedding Sora 2 into business systems should include backup plans and fail-safe design.

Conclusion

Sora 2 is an innovative model that can be considered a new standard in AI video generation. Its high-precision generation, natural audio synchronization, and new capabilities such as inserting users or objects make it valuable for everyone from individual creators to corporate marketing teams. Since the optimal plan and model choice varies by purpose—especially when considering commercial usage, API integration, and comparisons with competitors—clearly defining your goals is essential.

HBLAB, an AI development specialist, is strong in supporting AI-powered video production and workflow design. HBLAB provides comprehensive assistance across generative-AI video utilization planning, business process optimization, and enterprise DX initiatives. If you want to incorporate the latest AI technologies—starting with Sora 2—into your operations, consulting experts is a practical first step toward designing an adoption approach that fits your organization.

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