• Tim Brooks, a co-lead on OpenAI's video generator Sora, has joined Google DeepMind to work on video generation and world simulators.
  • Sora reportedly faces technical setbacks, with initial versions taking over 10 minutes to produce a one-minute video clip.

One of the co-leads behind OpenAI’s video generation project, Sora, has departed for Google. Tim Brooks, who was heading Sora’s development with William Peebles, revealed on X that he will join Google DeepMind to work on video generation technologies and “world simulators.”

“I had an amazing two years at OpenAI making Sora,” Brooks wrote. “Thank you to all the passionate and kind people I worked with. Excited for the next chapter!”

The news arrives as Sora faces technical setbacks that reportedly put it at a disadvantage compared to rivals like Luma and Runway. According to The Information, the initial version of Sora, first introduced in February, took over 10 minutes to generate a one-minute video clip. OpenAI is currently training an improved Sora model to produce clips faster.

Meanwhile, Google has been advancing its video generation capabilities with its model, Veo. Unveiled at Google I/O this spring, Veo will soon be integrated with YouTube Shorts, allowing creators to generate backgrounds and six-second clips.

In recent months, OpenAI has also appeared to cede ground to competitors on partnerships. Earlier this month, Runway inked a deal with Lionsgate, enabling it to develop a custom video model trained on Lionsgate’s movie catalog. Just a week later, Stability AI recruited “Avatar” and “Titanic” director James Cameron to its board.

OpenAI has been actively engaging with filmmakers and studios, showcasing Sora’s capabilities through collaborations with independent directors. However, no long-term partnerships with major studios have been announced so far.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah

ALSO READ:

OpenAI Secures $4 Billion Credit Line, Launches ‘Canvas’ ChatGPT Interface for Writing and Coding
This credit line accompanies OpenAI’s recent $6.6 billion funding round, pushing the company’s post-money valuation to $157 billion.
NewzchainArathy Augusthy