AI video apps gain momentum as OpenAI prepares to shut down Sora

A week after OpenAI confirmed plans to discontinue its Sora video generator, competing apps are reporting early gains in user activity, according to data cited by Bloomberg.

Among the primary beneficiaries is Kling AI, developed by Kuaishou Technology. The app recorded a 4% increase in global weekly active users, reaching approximately 2.6 million in the week following the announcement. Prior to Sora’s shutdown, Kling AI had already established a lead in monthly active users, with an estimated 7.8 million users in March compared to 4.7 million for Sora.

Other competitors, including Runway AI’s RunwayML and Vidu from Beijing-based Shengshu Technology, also posted modest growth. Each platform saw weekly active users rise by around 1% over the same period.

OpenAI’s decision to phase out Sora—scheduled to shut down its consumer-facing app later in April and fully discontinue its developer platform by September—has created an opening in a segment experiencing increased demand from content creators, filmmakers, and marketing teams. The shift is prompting users to explore alternative tools capable of generating and editing video through artificial intelligence.

The competitive landscape had already been evolving before the shutdown announcement, with multiple providers investing in product development and infrastructure. Both Runway and Shengshu Technology secured additional funding earlier this year, reflecting continued investor interest in AI-driven video production.