OpenAI is taking a bold step beyond chatbots and text models with the launch of its brand-new Sora app, a short-form video platform positioned as a direct rival to TikTok and Instagram Reels. The release came alongside Sora 2, the next generation of OpenAI’s video and audio generator, which promises to make AI-generated clips look far more realistic than before.

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The announcement, made on Tuesday, has already generated waves across the tech and creator communities. In an official blog post, OpenAI claimed that Sora 2 fixes one of the biggest problems of earlier models — their inability to follow the laws of physics.

“Prior video models are overoptimistic — they will morph objects and deform reality to successfully execute upon a text prompt,” OpenAI explained. “For example, if a basketball player misses a shot, the ball may spontaneously teleport to the hoop. In Sora 2, if a basketball player misses a shot, it will rebound off the backboard.”

The public demonstrations from OpenAI featured highly realistic scenes — from beach volleyball matches to skateboard tricks, gymnastics routines, and even dramatic cannonball dives into swimming pools.

The “cameos” feature: Upload yourself into AI videos

Perhaps the most surprising part of the launch is the Sora app’s “cameos” feature, which allows users to literally drop themselves into AI-generated clips. By uploading a one-time video and audio file to verify their likeness, people can generate videos where they — or their friends — appear in AI-crafted scenarios.

Even more striking, users can share their “cameos” with friends, granting them permission to include their likeness in generated videos. That means multiple people can appear together in a surreal AI-crafted scene.

OpenAI described the idea simply: “We think a social app built around this ‘cameos’ feature is the best way to experience the magic of Sora 2.”

Sora app vs TikTok and Meta

The new Sora app functions like a hybrid between TikTok and Meta’s Instagram Reels. Videos appear on an algorithmic feed that learns from user activity, location, and even past ChatGPT conversations — though the latter can be switched off.

This launch comes just days after Meta revealed its own video feed called Vibes inside the Meta AI app, signaling that the short-form video battle is entering a new chapter where AI-generated content takes center stage.

Safety, parental controls, and ethical concerns

While the technology is impressive, it brings serious safety concerns. Non-consensual use of likenesses has already been a persistent issue with AI video tools, and OpenAI’s new app could make such misuse easier.

To counter this, the company has introduced parental controls integrated with ChatGPT, allowing guardians to restrict infinite scroll, disable algorithmic personalization, or block direct messages for children. Users can also revoke access to their likeness at any time. Still, experts warn that misuse remains a real risk, since trusted friends could still generate deceptive or harmful videos.

Free at launch, monetization later

For now, the Sora iOS app is free to download in the U.S. and Canada, with plans to expand internationally. OpenAI has clarified that monetization will initially be limited to charging users for generating extra videos during periods of high demand.

Interestingly, ChatGPT Pro subscribers will gain access to the Sora 2 Pro model, even without an invite to the app itself. This move could give OpenAI’s premium users a powerful edge in experimenting with advanced video generation.

What it means for the future of social media

The Sora launch isn’t just another app drop — it signals a broader shift in how AI will integrate with entertainment and communication. By blending personal identity, AI creativity, and social sharing, OpenAI is positioning itself at the very heart of the short-form video revolution.

But whether the platform can compete with giants like TikTok and Meta will depend not just on its technology, but on how it handles trust, safety, and community culture.

For now, Sora is invite-only, but the buzz surrounding it suggests that when the doors open wider, millions of users will be eager to test just how magical — or dangerous — AI-powered social video can be.

Amid mounting protests over water and power shortages, a surprising digital trend has emerged: Bitchat, the decentralized peer-to-peer messaging service created by Jack Dorsey, is experiencing a surge in downloads and online searches across the island nation.

Protests began last Thursday in the capital city Antananarivo, where frustrated residents clashed with police over ongoing blackouts and dry taps. Demonstrations quickly spread nationwide, leading to reports of looting and prompting the government to sack its energy minister. To curb unrest, authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew—but that hasn’t stopped citizens from finding new ways to communicate.

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Bitchat surges in popularity

According to callebtc, a Bitcoin open-source developer working on the project, downloads of Bitchat spiked sharply in Madagascar over the weekend. Screenshots of protests circulating online coincided with Google Trends data showing the term “Bitchat” soaring from zero to 100 in search popularity on Friday—a level categorized as “peak popularity.”

Related searches like “Bitchat download” and “how to use Bitchat” ranked among the top five breakout topics in the country.

Meanwhile, Chrome-Stats recorded more than 21,000 downloads in the last 24 hours, pushing Bitchat’s total installs past 365,000 since launch. While exact regional breakdowns aren’t available, analysts say Madagascar’s protests were a major driver of the surge.

A tool for protest movements

This is not the first time Bitchat has gained traction during political unrest. Earlier in September, downloads spiked in Nepal during corruption-related protests that briefly triggered a social media ban. A similar uptick followed demonstrations in Indonesia, where protesters turned to decentralized apps after authorities restricted traditional platforms.

What makes Bitchat unique is its Bluetooth mesh network technology, allowing encrypted communication without internet connectivity. Users don’t need phone numbers, email addresses, or central servers to sign up, making the platform resilient against government shutdowns.

Dorsey, who also co-founded Block Inc. and Twitter (now X), launched Bitchat’s beta in July. His vision is for censorship-resistant communication tools that protect user privacy even under state pressure.

Internet access still limited

Yet despite the surge, Bitchat’s reach in Madagascar remains constrained. Out of a population of nearly 32 million, only about 6.6 million people had internet access at the start of 2025, according to DataReportal. While there are more than 18 million mobile connections, many are limited to calls and SMS, excluding internet-based services.

For those connected, however, Bitchat has become a vital channel for organizing, sharing updates, and bypassing government restrictions.

Global pressure on encrypted platforms

The rise of decentralized apps like Bitchat comes as governments in Europe push for tighter surveillance. The controversial EU “Chat Control” law aims to force platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal to allow authorities to scan messages before they are encrypted.

So far, 15 EU countries back the proposal, but it still falls short of the required 65% population threshold. Germany, which holds a pivotal vote, has yet to take a final stance.

Critics, including Diode CEO Hans Rempel and Brickken’s Elisenda Fabrega, warn the law could have unintended consequences by driving users toward censorship-resistant Web3 platforms like Bitchat.

The bigger picture

For Madagascar, Bitchat’s spike highlights how technology is increasingly intertwined with political unrest. From Kathmandu to Antananarivo, decentralized tools are becoming the go-to choice for citizens when traditional communication channels are compromised.

And for Dorsey, every surge in downloads during unrest only reinforces his central argument: that true democracy cannot exist without privacy and secure communication.

In a stunning revelation, Pavel Durov, the co-founder of Telegram, has claimed that French intelligence officials pressured him to censor political content tied to Moldova’s 2024 election. According to Durov, the request was part of an informal bargain: comply, and the French authorities would “say good things” to the judge overseeing his case.

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Durov, who was arrested in France in August 2024, wrote in a Sunday post on his own platform that while Telegram initially removed some posts that “clearly” violated its terms of service, French officials soon provided a second list.

Unlike the first, nearly all of these channels were legitimate and fully compliant with our rules. Their only commonality was that they voiced political positions disliked by the French and Moldovan governments. We refused to act on this request,” Durov said.

A growing clash between states and platforms

The clash underscores a broader struggle between governments and digital platforms over free expression. French authorities, along with other European Union officials, have repeatedly demanded that Telegram restrict political content during elections, citing fears of disinformation campaigns.

But Durov argues that such demands undermine democracy itself.

You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy. You can’t ‘fight election interference’ by interfering with elections,” he wrote in May 2025, referencing similar pressure from France to censor Romanian election content.

Crypto industry and activists rally behind Durov

Durov’s claims come amid heightened scrutiny of his trial and the future of Telegram in Europe. His arrest in 2024 drew fierce backlash from the crypto industry, which has long embraced Telegram as a hub for innovation and decentralized finance discussions. Human rights groups also condemned what they described as a politically motivated attack on digital privacy.

Since then, Durov has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the French government and of the EU’s direction. In June, he warned that France was “inching toward societal collapse” due to rising censorship and authoritarian policies.

Privacy vs. surveillance

One of the central issues is encryption. Durov has repeatedly vowed that Telegram will exit jurisdictions, including France, rather than hand over encryption keys or create backdoors for state surveillance.

This debate intensified in 2025 as the EU pushed forward a controversial proposal to monitor all online messages—including encrypted ones. The initiative, supported by 19 EU member states, has been described by critics as the largest state-backed attack on online privacy in the union’s history.

For Durov, the stakes go beyond one court case. “We either have freedom of speech and fair elections—or we don’t,” he declared.

What’s next for Telegram?

With Telegram boasting more than 900 million users worldwide, the platform’s standoff with European governments could set the tone for the future of digital freedoms. If Durov follows through on his threats to withdraw from countries that demand backdoor access, millions of European users could find themselves cut off.

For now, the battle lines are clear: a Russian-born tech entrepreneur standing firm on principles of free expression, and European governments insisting on tighter control in the name of democracy.

The outcome of Durov’s case in France, and Telegram’s response to future censorship demands, could reshape the global conversation about privacy, power, and the limits of state authority in the digital age.