The Mark Cuban Podcast
Episode: AI Video Gets an Upgrade with Sora 2
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Mark Cuban (A)
Guest Voices (Video Demo): Sam Altman (B — AI-Generated Voiceover)
Episode Overview
In this episode, Mark Cuban explores OpenAI’s release of Sora 2, its cutting-edge AI-powered video generation platform. Cuban analyzes the new app launch, the improved features of Sora 2—including its astonishing video, audio, and animation capabilities—and discusses the broader implications for content creators and the trajectory of AI-driven creative technology. He also comments on social media reactions and shares concerns about potential downsides of this rapid advancement.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Sora 2’s Launch and App Strategy
- Sora 2 is launching as a standalone app, a major shift from Sora 1’s integration with ChatGPT and limited accessibility.
- Criticism remains about earlier promises—specifically, still no full “minute-long” video generation, which had been teased since Sora 1 but not delivered.
- The app will soon be available for iOS, with Android access via invite codes initially.
Quote:
“One of the biggest criticisms I actually got when I posted about this on LinkedIn was from my friend Tom who said, ‘cool, still no minute long. Sora1 like they said though,’ which is true.”
— Mark Cuban [00:01]
2. Demo Video Breakdown: Realistic Voice, Likeness, and Sound
- The demo, presented by a convincingly AI-generated Sam Altman, showcases Sora 2’s new sound generation and voice cloning abilities.
- The video (and all sound/voiceover) is entirely Sora-generated, demonstrating fidelity in both visuals and audio.
- Sora 2 now enables the creation of completely synthetic yet realistic personalities and avatars, including powerful voice and likeness cloning.
Quote:
“All of this is voice. Voiceovered by Sam Altman. And there’s like an animation of him actually talking. It looks like him actually talking, but all of it was generated by Sora, including his voice.”
— Mark Cuban [01:55]
3. Technical Advances: Motion, Physics, and “Kameo”
- Sora 2 boasts unprecedented realism in video generation, particularly with complex movements (e.g., figure skaters twirling) and adherence to real-world physics.
- The introduction of “Kameo” lets users insert themselves or friends into any scene after a short verification—essentially instant deepfakes with layered safeguards.
- Sora 2 is positioned as the “most powerful imagination engine ever built.”
Quotes:
“Sora 2 is also the state of the art for motion, physics, IQ and body mechanics, marking a giant leap forward in realism.”
— Mark Cuban [03:09]
“We’re introducing Kameo, giving you the power to step into any world or scene and letting your friends cast you and theirs.”
— AI Sam Altman [03:24]
4. Feed Philosophy and AI-Driven Social Platform Risks
- The app includes a social feed—users can create, remix, and discover videos.
- OpenAI acknowledges concerns about doom scrolling, addictive use, and “sloptimized” AI-generated content.
- The algorithm will emphasize content from people you follow and videos likely to inspire your own creations.
Quote:
“There’s concern about doom scrolling addiction, isolation and real time sloptimized feeds are top of mind... They’re worried that everything’s going to turn into AI slop.”
— Mark Cuban [~06:50]
“By default, we show you content heavily biased towards people you follow, interact with, and prioritize videos that the model thinks you’re most likely to use as inspiration for your own creation.”
— Mark Cuban paraphrasing OpenAI [~07:30]
5. Limits, Glitches & the Road Ahead
- Despite leaps in fidelity, glitches still persist (e.g., unnatural hand positions, minor physical distortions in demo videos).
- Sora 2 is likened to “GPT-3.5” for video; Cuban anticipates further iterations will continue to improve rapidly, just as with text-based models.
Quote:
“So it’s definitely not perfect. Even in some of their demo videos... at the very end of the video, when his stick is in resting position, his hand looks kind of like twisted in a weird way. That’s not natural.”
— Mark Cuban [~06:40]
6. Broader Impact and Community Response
- The leap in controllability, accuracy, and creative potential of Sora 2 could drastically accelerate video content production for creators, marketers, and studios.
- Social media reactions indicate shock at the lack of mainstream hype relative to language models, and some skepticism about the real-world need and risks (e.g., “digital cigarettes”).
Notable Quote:
“Someone said, ‘what problem does it solve? You are selling digital cigarettes at this point.’ Which is funny because you know, maybe people are going to get addicted to AI videos.”
— Mark Cuban [~09:40]
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
-
AI Video Generation Clarity:
“You could literally make a full on animated movie... you could create full on movies with this, which is quite, quite exciting. I feel like finally for the first time.”
— Mark Cuban [~06:09] -
On Controllability Improvements:
“They say that this model is a big leap forward in controllability, which is basically the ability to follow intricate instructions. You can do it across multiple shots while accurately persisting with, with an accurate persisting world state.”
— Mark Cuban [~05:30] -
On User Protection Design:
“We believe such systems will be critical for TR AI models that deeply understand the physical world.”
— OpenAI, quoted by Mark Cuban [~05:00]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Introduction & Overview: 00:01–00:30
- Sora 2 App, Critique on Length: 00:30–01:10
- Launch Video Breakdown (AI-Generated Sam Altman): 01:49–03:09
- Technical Innovations (Motion, Sound, “Kameo”): 03:09–05:00
- Advances in Realism & Limitations: 05:00–07:00
- Introduction of Social Feed and Ethical Considerations: 07:00–08:30
- Community and Social Media Response: 08:30–09:40
- Conclusion & Forward-Looking Statements: 09:40–End
Conclusion
Mark Cuban presents Sora 2 as a transformative leap for AI video—one that not only expands the reach of creative possibility but also raises new social and ethical questions. He acknowledges both the technical triumphs and early-stage glitches, praises the creative potential and user control embedded in the app, and anticipates even bigger advances ahead. Despite some skepticism (even comparing the product to “digital cigarettes” in jest), Cuban is excited to see how creators will push the boundaries using Sora 2.