What Next | Daily News and Analysis Hollywood vs. A.I. Slop
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Mar 30, 2026 
Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media and tech reporter on AI and media, breaks down OpenAI’s brief Sora experiment. He walks through viral fake videos, how Sora worked, and its guardrail failures. They discuss the odd Disney deal, why studios hesitated, and what Sora’s shutdown means for Hollywood and future AI-made content.
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Sora's Early Viral Example Videos
- Jason Koebler describes Sora's early viral outputs that included surreal celebrity and cartoon scenes.
- He recalls SpongeBob Hitler cosplay, Sam Altman arrested, Pikachu DJing and other obviously fabricated clips that spread instantly.
The Short‑Lived OpenAI Disney Ambition
- Koebler highlights the now-cancelled billion-dollar OpenAI–Disney deal that would have allowed Disney character likenesses on Sora.
- He recounts the announced plan to surface those Sora-made videos on Disney Plus and the surprising speed of the collapse.
Hype Didn’t Translate Into User Retention
- OpenAI shut down Sora quickly despite heavy initial hype and downloads, suggesting a mismatch between launch buzz and sustained use.
- Koebler notes the app felt like a ghost town with low likes and comments after the initial surge.