Intro: When Clones Explode

The tech industry is littered with perishable viral fads that come with both promise and peril. Enter the new Sora 2, a text-to-video model released by OpenAI that has trended instantly and (quite literally) around the world. The model can produce relevant and lifelike videos directly from text prompts - is there anything cooler than that? Sora 2 is genuinely one of the more remarkable AI products to come out in 2023 (year of the chatbot!). 

The moment Sora began trending, the Sora 2 clones began to appear on the Apple App Store worldwide. Too many of these clones deceive unsuspecting users into downloading something that closely resembles the real thing. You may be fine downloading the Sora 2 clone, but if you've downloaded a fake Sora 2 app, you could fix it stupidly.

In this blog, we will outline:

- Why clone versions of Sora 2 are exploding across the digital landscape. 

- Who can actually access the official OpenAI Sora 2 video tool?

- How to escape by downloading the real deal and avoiding the fakes.

The Growth of Sora 2 Clones on the App Store

An Explanation for Clones

When a new kind of technology spreads and goes viral, greedy developers will try to take advantage of the buzz and will create their own apps with similar names, icons, or descriptions to trick people into paying for their clone app. Sora 2, OpenAI's new video generator AI, is no exception.

According to a report from 9to5Mac, there are now multiple app names in the App Store with titles like “Sora 2” and “AI Video Generator.” Some developers even mimic the branding of OpenAI, while others charge users unreasonable weekly subscription rates.

Gigazine reported that a clone of Sora 2 called “Sora 2: AI Video Generator” made it to the top charts in countries like India and Japan.

Livemint stated that the primary issue around clone app excitement is that the actual Sora 2 is only available in the US and Canada, which makes everyone in other regions look for and end up with clones.

This is dangerous, as you could get burned with unexpected charges, data harvesting practices, or even malicious code!

Who is Eligible to Use OpenAI's Video AI (Sora 2)?

It's key to point out that Sora 2 doesn't offer global access. Here’s another way of putting that: 

1. Not Available Worldwide

Thus far, Sora 2 has only been released in the U.S. and Canada. In other words, if you are located outside of the US and Canada, you will not see the official app in your App Store. 

2. Launching via Invite Only

In fact, OpenAI just launched Sora 2 to the public via invite only. This means that some specific creators, professionals, or test accounts were the only ones invited to use and test the features. Just because you are outside of the US or Canada does not indicate you will automatically have free access to Sora 2. 

3. Must have a Personal Account with OpenAI

If you qualify, you will still have to log in under your personal account with OpenAI. You wouldn’t create or download a video without a personal account.

4. Bing Video Creator

If you aren’t located in the US or Canada, if you want to use Sora technology, use Bing Video Creator, which is an option on the mobile Bing app that is available for both iOS and Android to download. Bing Video Creator does use Sora technology, so you would have a similar experience to Sora.

As reported by The Verge, Microsoft recently launched Bing Video Creator in several markets across the world (except China and Russia). It lacks the full capability of Sora 2 but allows any user to create AI videos based on text prompts.

So, if you live in India, Europe, or any other market where Sora 2 has not come out yet, Bing Video Creator is likely the best legal and safe option.

Downloading Sora 2 Securely

If you reside in Canada or the U.S., here are the steps to download the official version:

Step 1: Use Only Official Sources:

- Download from the app link on OpenAI's website directly, or download from App Store. 

- Make sure that the developer name is OpenAI--if the publisher does not specify OpenAI, it is a clone. 

- Entering fantastical third-party or ad-sponsored sites offering downloads is not advisable.

Step 2: Searching in App Store

- Launch the iOS App Store. 

- Search for Sora 2. 

- Verify the developer--the developer must be OpenAI. 

- If the developer is OpenAI, go ahead and download the app. 

- If you do not see it, it is not available in your country yet.

Step 3: Logging In to the OpenAI Account

- After downloading, open the app. 

- Log in with your OpenAI account (i.e., the same one that you log in for ChatGPT Plus if applicable).

- If you are not permitted to access Sora, you likely are going to need to be added to a waitlist.

Step 4: Screening & Downloading Videos

Currently, some users indicate that there is no "Download" button for the Sora system that would allow them to automatically download a video once it is generated. One way is to inspect the video source on a web browser and proceed to download the video, but this pathway may be against OpenAI's Terms of Service. 

The best course of action is to await an official download option that complies with OpenAI's policies.

Safety Measures Against Clones

Here are a few reminders:

Always check the developer name: The authentic app will list OpenAI as the developer.

Dodge the subscription plans: Most clones charge a $7-10 weekly subscription for use, but the actual OpenAI app is free.

Report fake apps in the app store: If you see clones, they can be reported through the "Report a Problem" link associated with the app.

Read the reviews: Fake apps have reviews that are typically generic or grow increasingly similar.

When in doubt, reference official sources: If in doubt, just keep OpenAI's official website, blog, or Twitter/X on your radar for announcements.

Conclusion

Sora 2 from OpenAI is one of the most thrilling advancements in AI-generated video technology. Nevertheless, the cautious rollout provides the perfect backdrop for numerous cloned developer apps to appear in the App Store throughout the world.

The official version of Sora 2 is currently available at this moment to users in the US and Canada, with some of those users even having to secure an invite. Everyone else is best served by avoiding the possible dubious clones and turning to safe software applications such as Bing Video Creator until the rollout to regions is scheduled.