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A recent report from 9to5Mac reveals that OpenAI’s official AI-generated video application, Sora, is currently available only to users in the United States and Canada. However, amidst the app’s skyrocketing popularity, a wave of counterfeit versions has flooded the global App Store. These imitation apps, often bearing similar names like “Sora 2: AI Video Generator,” have managed to exploit the situation, with one even climbing as high as ninth on the App Store’s “Photo & Video” top charts — a feat that can easily deceive unaware users into mistaking them for the genuine product.
The scope of these counterfeit apps isn’t limited to just one or two. A quick search for “Sora 2” uncovers around a dozen similar applications, many of which employ deceptive tactics to appear legitimate. Some cheat visually by using OpenAI’s official logo as their icon, while others try to boost credibility by bundling references to Google’s VEO 3 model in their descriptions. Their common goal is to lure users into paying through in-app purchases or costly weekly subscription plans, often with the promise of advanced AI video generation.
Screenshots obtained by the media show the extent of this deception, with many of these fake apps presenting sleek, professional-looking interfaces that imitate the authentic Sora experience. This kind of mimicry, while all too common in app stores, becomes particularly problematic outside North America, where users are less aware that the official Sora app is limited regionally. As a result, many unsuspecting users end up downloading and paying for fraudulent applications, believing they are purchasing the legitimate service. Such incidents also highlight the ongoing challenges app stores face in timely moderating content during viral trends.
Following media attention on this issue, Apple has acted swiftly. The company reportedly removed these counterfeit apps from the App Store and took steps to revert them to their original names, aiming to curb further misinformation and protect users from scams. This episode underscores the importance of diligent moderation by app platforms, especially when dealing with trending and high-demand applications.
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