OpenAI Staff Split Over Sora App Launch
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Several current and former OpenAI researchers are publicly questioning the company’s first social media product: Sora, a TikTok-style feed of AI-generated videos — including Sam Altman deepfakes.
On X, researcher John Hallman wrote that “AI-based feeds are scary” but praised the team’s attempt to design a positive experience. Harvard professor Boaz Barak added that Sora 2 is “technically amazing” but warned it’s “premature to congratulate ourselves” on avoiding social-media pitfalls.
Meanwhile, ex-researcher Rohan Pandey used the moment to pitch Periodic Labs, a startup building AI for scientific discovery rather than “the infinite AI TikTok slop machine.” -
️ OpenAI’s new Sora app — a TikTok-style AI video feed — is drawing concern even from insiders.
Researcher John Hallman: “AI-based feeds are scary,” though he praised the design effort.
Harvard’s Boaz Barak: Sora 2 is “technically amazing” but warned it’s “premature to congratulate ourselves.”
Ex-OpenAI researcher Rohan Pandey seized the moment to plug his new startup, Periodic Labs, aiming to reimagine AI + science.