Sora AI is one of the most talked-about tools in artificial intelligence right now. It can turn a simple text description into a realistic video — in seconds. If you have ever wondered how to use Sora AI, this guide explains everything from scratch: what it is, how to access it, what you can create, and who it is actually for.

What Is Sora AI?

Sora is a video generation tool made by OpenAI — the same company behind ChatGPT. You type a description of a scene, and Sora creates a short video that matches what you described. No camera, no editor, no special skills required.

For example, you could type: “A woman walking through a rainy Tokyo street at night, neon lights reflecting on the pavement.” Sora will generate a video of exactly that scene.

This kind of tool is called a text-to-video model. It uses deep learning — a type of AI that learns from millions of examples — to understand your description and create realistic visuals.

How to Access Sora OpenAI

Sora is available through OpenAI’s platform. Here is how to get started:

  1. Go to sora.com — OpenAI’s dedicated Sora website.
  2. Create or log into your OpenAI account — if you already use ChatGPT, you can use the same account.
  3. Choose a subscription plan — Sora is available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers (more on pricing below).
  4. Start a new project — type your prompt in the text box and click Generate.

Sora is currently available in most countries, though access may vary by region. OpenAI continues to expand availability.

How Much Is Sora AI?

Sora does not have a standalone free plan. Access is tied to OpenAI’s ChatGPT subscription tiers:

  • ChatGPT Plus ($20/month): Access to Sora with limited generations per month. Videos are capped at 720p resolution and 5 seconds in length at this tier.
  • ChatGPT Pro ($200/month): Unlimited Sora video generations, up to 1080p resolution, and videos up to 20 seconds long. Faster generation times.

For casual creators, Plus is a reasonable starting point. For professionals who need volume and quality, Pro is the better investment.

How to Use Sora AI: Step by Step

Once you are logged in and have an active plan, here is exactly how the tool works.

Step 1: Write Your Prompt

Your prompt is your instructions to Sora. The more specific you are, the better the result. Think about:

  • The subject — who or what is in the video?
  • The setting — where does it take place?
  • The action — what is happening?
  • The style — cinematic, animated, documentary, slow-motion?
  • The mood — warm and bright, dark and dramatic, playful?

Weak prompt: “A dog in a park.”
Strong prompt: “A golden retriever running through an autumn park, leaves falling, soft morning light, cinematic slow-motion, 4K quality.”

Step 2: Choose Your Settings

Before generating, you can adjust a few settings:

  • Aspect ratio: 16:9 (landscape), 9:16 (vertical/mobile), or 1:1 (square).
  • Resolution: 480p, 720p, or 1080p depending on your plan.
  • Duration: Usually 5–20 seconds depending on your subscription.

Step 3: Generate and Review

Click Generate. Sora will process your prompt — this typically takes 30 seconds to a few minutes. You will receive a video you can preview directly in the browser.

If you are not satisfied, you can:

  • Regenerate with the same prompt for a different result.
  • Edit your prompt and try again.
  • Use the “Remix” feature to slightly modify an existing generation.

Step 4: Download and Use

Once happy with the result, download the video file (MP4 format). You can then use it in presentations, social media, websites, or video projects.

What Can You Create with Sora AI?

sora ai use cases

Sora is remarkably versatile. Here are real use cases across different industries:

Marketing and Advertising

Create short product demos, lifestyle videos, or social media clips without a film crew. A startup can generate a professional-looking brand video for a pitch deck in minutes.

Education and Training

Visualize abstract concepts, historical events, or scientific processes. Teachers can create illustrative clips to accompany lessons without needing video editing skills.

Content Creation

YouTubers, bloggers, and social media creators use Sora to generate B-roll footage, animated explainers, or visual hooks for their content.

Prototyping and Storyboarding

Filmmakers and designers use Sora to visualize scenes before committing to production. It dramatically speeds up the pre-production process.

Personal Projects

Create custom visuals for events, invitations, birthday messages, or personal creative projects.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

  • Be descriptive but focused. Long prompts are fine, but avoid contradictory instructions.
  • Use style references. Phrases like “Pixar-style animation,” “documentary footage,” or “35mm film grain” help Sora understand the visual tone you want.
  • Iterate quickly. Generate several versions and compare. Sora often produces varied results from the same prompt.
  • Start simple. If your first prompt does not work well, simplify it. Add detail gradually.

What Sora AI Cannot Do (Yet)

It is important to understand Sora’s current limitations:

  • It cannot generate videos longer than 20 seconds at this stage.
  • Complex scenes with many characters or fast-moving interactions can sometimes look inconsistent.
  • It does not generate audio or voiceover — video only.
  • OpenAI restricts certain types of content for safety reasons (violence, explicit material, real people’s likenesses without consent).

These limitations are improving rapidly. OpenAI releases regular updates to Sora’s capabilities.

Is Sora AI Worth It?

If you regularly produce visual content — for marketing, education, or creative work — Sora is a powerful time-saver. The Plus plan at $20/month is accessible for most professionals and students. The Pro plan makes more sense for agencies or teams with high output needs.

For entrepreneurs and startup founders, in particular, Sora removes a significant barrier: producing video content no longer requires a production budget or specialist skills. A founder can walk into a pitch with professional-looking visuals created in an afternoon.

To learn more about how AI tools are transforming the way businesses work, read our guide on the best AI tools for business, or explore why AI adoption is really about people, not technology.

The Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) supports technology education, startup growth, and digital innovation in Armenia. We publish guides like this to help entrepreneurs, students, and professionals understand and use emerging technologies effectively.