OpenAI’s Sora shut down after Altman deleted TikTok for addiction

Sam Altman has deleted his TikTok account after admitting he became addicted to the platform while studying it for competitive intelligence. The OpenAI CEO confessed on the “Relentless” podcast that he deliberately immersed himself in the app to understand what made it so compelling, especially as his company was developing Sora, its own AI-generated video social network.

“I made myself get addicted to TikTok, because I wanted to just learn,” Altman said. He explained that he forced himself to use the app extensively, analyzing its features and user behavior to inform Sora’s design. However, the habit quickly spiraled out of control. “I ended up spending hours on it every day,” he admitted. “I couldn’t stop.”

Altman’s decision to delete the app came after he recognized the negative impact on his productivity and well-being. He described the experience as a stark reminder of how powerful and addictive social media algorithms can be. “I learned what I needed to learn, and then I had to get out,” he said.

The timing is notable because OpenAI recently shut down Sora after a limited public test. The company had launched a preview of the platform earlier this year, allowing select users to create and share AI-generated short videos. But feedback and internal reviews led to a pause in development. Altman did not directly link the shutdown to his TikTok addiction, but he acknowledged that the company is rethinking its approach to social media.

“We built something technically impressive, but the social dynamics are harder to get right,” Altman said. He added that OpenAI is now focused on addressing moderation, user engagement, and content quality before relaunching Sora.

For now, Altman is staying off TikTok and focusing on other priorities. “I’m better off without it,” he said. “I think a lot of people would say the same.”