Some artists involved in the experiment have criticized OpenAI for how the program was implemented and the tool could have a negative impact on the creative industry.

On November 26, a project appeared on the Hugging Face development platform that is said to be related to Sora's application programming interface (API). This allows users to access and create videos using this AI tool.

A group of artists involved in the experiment posted a letter to the platform, accusing OpenAI of exploiting “unpaid labor” from hundreds of artists during the initial testing.

They claimed that participants provided feedback and performed experimental work without being properly compensated. Within hours, OpenAI suspended the artists’ early access, according to a notice on Hugging Face.

The Sora tool, which can convert text into video, is expected to revolutionize the creative industry, but it has also left many artists worried about losing their jobs.

Several artists wrote to OpenAI objecting to the way the tool was being deployed: “We are not against the use of AI in art, but we disagree with how the artist program is being deployed and how the tool is being shaped before its public release.”

Sora was announced earlier this year but has not been widely available. OpenAI has only given access to a small group of artists, designers, and filmmakers to gather feedback on risks, harms, and needed improvements.

Artists have criticised the show as being "more promotional than genuinely creative".

OpenAI says Sora is still in its research testing phase, and the company is trying to “balance innovation with robust safety measures for broader use.” They insist that participation in the test is voluntary, with no obligation to provide feedback, but that artists must keep the tool a secret while it’s still in development.

More than 11,000 creative professionals, including actors Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke and many writers and musicians, have signed a public letter opposing generative AI, calling it a “massive and unjust threat” to their livelihoods.

In a recent discussion on Reddit, OpenAI product manager Kevin Weil said that Sora's public release was delayed due to the need to "refine the model," particularly in areas like safety and scalability.

Cao Phong (according to FT, AP)