Misleading 'Fu Sora' Image Sparks Confusion Between AI Video Tool and Fake App

A viral image circulating on Reddit under the title "Fu Sora" has ignited confusion among the public about the nature of OpenAI’s advanced AI video generation tool, Sora. The image, posted by user /u/karcsiking0 on the r/StableDiffusion subreddit, depicts a surreal, dreamlike scene of a woman floating above a cityscape, with exaggerated lighting and impossible physics — hallmarks of Stable Diffusion-generated art. The post, accompanied by the caption "Fu sora," has been interpreted by many as a parody or misspelling of OpenAI’s Sora, leading to widespread misinformation online.

According to OpenAI’s official website, Sora is a text-to-video generative model capable of producing realistic, minute-long videos from simple text prompts, with coherent physics, spatial relationships, and camera motion. The model, first unveiled in February 2024, is not yet publicly available but is being tested with select researchers and artists. OpenAI has never released a product called "Fu Sora," nor has it endorsed any user-generated content bearing that name. The Reddit post is a creative reinterpretation using Stable Diffusion, a separate open-source AI image generator, and bears no official connection to OpenAI.

Compounding the confusion, a fraudulent iOS application titled "Sora by OpenAI" has appeared on the App Store, boasting over 228,000 ratings and a 4.8-star average. The app, listed under category "Photo & Video," claims to be a free tool for generating AI videos from text — mirroring the functionality of OpenAI’s Sora. However, OpenAI has not released any mobile application under this name. The App Store listing includes stock imagery, fabricated user reviews, and in-app purchase prompts, suggesting a deliberate attempt to monetize public interest in generative AI. Apple has not yet removed the app, despite the clear misrepresentation.

Experts warn that such incidents are symptomatic of a broader trend: the rapid proliferation of AI-themed scams exploiting public fascination with cutting-edge technology. "People are eager to access powerful AI tools like Sora, and bad actors are quick to capitalize on that desire," says Dr. Lena Ruiz, a digital ethics researcher at Stanford University. "When users see an app with OpenAI’s name and a high rating, they assume legitimacy. This is a classic case of brand hijacking in the age of AI hype."

OpenAI has not issued a public statement regarding the Reddit post or the iOS app, but sources within the company confirm that they are monitoring the situation. "We are aware of several impersonations and misleading content related to Sora," an internal spokesperson told Reuters. "We urge users to verify official channels: only openai.com and verified OpenAI social accounts provide accurate information."

The incident underscores the urgent need for better digital literacy and platform accountability. Reddit, Apple, and other platforms must implement more robust mechanisms to flag and remove misleading content, especially when it involves high-profile tech brands. Meanwhile, users are advised to exercise caution: if an AI tool promises capabilities that rival Sora’s — such as generating multi-minute, photorealistic videos — and is available for free on an app store, it is almost certainly a scam.

For those seeking genuine AI video generation tools, OpenAI’s Sora remains inaccessible to the public. Alternatives like Runway ML, Pika Labs, and Kaiber offer limited but legitimate text-to-video capabilities. The "Fu Sora" image may be artistically compelling, but it is not a product — and the iOS app bearing OpenAI’s name is not real. In the age of AI, verification is not optional; it is essential.