OpenAI has opened access to its Sora AI image generator, making it free for all ChatGPT users. With this update, users can generate stunning photorealistic images simply by typing a text prompt—no subscription required.
How It Works
The tool is fully integrated into ChatGPT. Users just enter a descriptive text prompt, and Sora generates an image in response. The experience is similar to other popular AI tools, but it’s now bundled conveniently within ChatGPT’s interface.
Downloaded images are saved in PNG format and do not have a watermark, although metadata confirms they were created using Sora.
Video Generation Still Behind Paywall
While image generation is now free, video generation via Sora remains exclusive to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users. Paid subscribers can create videos up to 20 seconds long in 1080p resolution. This paywall is likely due to the high computing demands and complexity of generating videos.
Explore Presets, Styles, and Variants
Sora offers a creative toolbox for users:
- Aspect ratio selection
- Multiple image variations per prompt
- Predefined styles like Film Noir, Balloon World, Pixel Art, and Cartoonify
These presets allow users to tailor their creations to specific artistic visions or content goals.
Social Feed & Personal Library
OpenAI has added a social-media-like layer to the experience. Users must create a username, enabling them to:
- View a feed of shared content
- Save, group, or favorite their own AI creations
- Organize work under tabs like My Media, Uploads, and Trash
This makes Sora not just a creative tool, but also a discovery and sharing platform.
Meta-Like User Interface
The interface is clean and intuitive, resembling the newly released Meta AI app. It’s easy to navigate, visually rich, and designed to promote content creation and interaction.
With this move, OpenAI is bringing generative image technology to a wider audience, enabling more creativity, exploration, and innovation. Users get powerful tools without having to pay—at least for images.
