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OpenAI is discontinuing its Sora video platform less than a year after launching it, signaling a major change in direction as the company turns its attention toward productivity-focused tools and positions itself for a possible public offering.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI has decided to phase out Sora, a consumer-oriented product that debuted with significant hype but has since receded from public attention. The move reflects a broader shift away from consumer entertainment products and toward enterprise and software development solutions.

CEO Sam Altman informed employees of the decision on Tuesday, explaining that all products tied to the company’s video-generation models would be wound down. This includes not only the Sora app itself, but also its developer tools and video-related features within ChatGPT.

The decision is part of a wider restructuring effort aimed at directing OpenAI’s computing power and engineering resources toward tools designed to boost productivity for both businesses and individual users. The change comes as the company lays the groundwork for a potential initial public offering that could take place as soon as the fourth quarter.

Last week, OpenAI outlined plans to merge several of its key offerings—including the ChatGPT desktop app, its Codex coding tool, and its browser—into a single integrated platform described as a “superapp.” The company believes this unified system will help streamline its efforts and concentrate its workforce on a single strategic vision.

Sora was originally introduced in September as part of OpenAI’s push to expand its presence in the consumer market. The platform included a social feed similar to TikTok, allowing users to generate and share AI-created video content. Following the launch, Altman encouraged users to experiment creatively, including inserting themselves into well-known scenes from popular media.

Internally, however, some employees questioned the scale of resources devoted to Sora, particularly given the lack of clear demand from users. Despite those concerns, Altman urged the company to continue pursuing ambitious ideas, including plans for a future AI-powered hardware device.

The rollout of Sora also drew criticism early on. Initially, the platform lacked sufficient safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of copyrighted material, leading to a brief legal dispute over intellectual property. OpenAI later introduced measures that allow content owners to restrict the use of their likenesses and protected works.

In December, Disney announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI, with plans to license more than 200 characters for use on the Sora platform. The agreement would have enabled users to create AI-generated videos featuring iconic figures, placing themselves alongside characters such as Luke Skywalker or within scenes from Toy Story.

That partnership will now not proceed. A Disney spokeswoman stated, “As the nascent AI field advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere.”

{Matzav.com}

A jury on Wednesday ruled that Meta and YouTube are responsible for designing platforms that contributed to harmful and addictive behavior among young users, marking a significant decision that could influence future lawsuits against social media companies.

Jurors awarded $3 million in damages to the lead plaintiff, a woman identified in court documents as Kaley, or “KGM,” who claimed that early exposure to YouTube and Instagram led to compulsive use and played a role in her mental health struggles, including depression, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts.

The verdict follows a trial that spanned several weeks and featured testimony from high-profile executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, who were called to defend their platforms. The case drew comparisons to litigation against tobacco companies in the 1990s. The jury deliberated for more than a week in a Los Angeles courtroom and at one point informed the judge that they were having difficulty reaching agreement regarding one of the defendants.

Kaley filed the lawsuit in 2023 against Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, as well as Google-owned YouTube. TikTok and Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, were initially included in the complaint but reached settlements before the trial began in late January.

Now 20 years old, Kaley testified that she spent extensive time on social media and experienced an emotional “rush” from likes and notifications, which kept her constantly engaged with her phone.

“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options,” a Meta spokesperson told CBS News, noting that jurors were not unanimous in issuing the decision.

Her attorney, Mark Lanier of Lanier Law Firm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Throughout the proceedings, Lanier argued that both Meta and YouTube knew their platforms could harm younger users but chose to prioritize profits over user safety.

The case centered on two primary claims against the companies: negligence and a failure to adequately warn users about potential health risks associated with their platforms.

For years, social media companies have defended against similar claims by invoking Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which shields platforms from liability for content posted by users.

This lawsuit, however, focused not on user-generated content but on the design of the platforms themselves.

In a separate but related development on Tuesday, a New Mexico jury found that Meta violated state laws regarding child exploitation and ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties. That verdict was reached after just one day of deliberations.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a post on X that the company plans to appeal that ruling, adding that “we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”

The New Mexico case marks the first time a state has successfully held a major technology company liable for harm caused to young users.

During the Los Angeles trial, both Meta and YouTube denied that Kaley’s social media use was the cause of her mental health difficulties. Their legal teams argued that other factors—including family background, challenges at home and in school, and learning disabilities—were more significant contributors to her condition.

“Not one of her therapists identified social media as the cause,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News earlier this month.

Several mental health professionals who treated Kaley testified during the proceedings. Among them was Victoria Burke, a former therapist who worked with her in 2019, who said that social media and Kaley’s identity “were closely related,” and that activity on the platforms could “make or break her mood.”

Attorneys for the companies also maintained that Kaley used social media as a way to cope with existing emotional struggles, rather than those platforms being the source of her problems.

{Matzav.com}

United Airlines announced plans to roll out a new cabin concept designed to give economy passengers more room and comfort on long-distance flights, introducing a premium seating option called “United Relax Row.”

The airline revealed that the new section will feature specially designed seats equipped with adjustable leg rests that can be raised or lowered, allowing travelers to create a flat, couch-like space to stretch out during flights.

“The entire row is alllllll yours,” United said Tuesday in a post on social platform X.

According to the airline, the new seating is “ideal for families traveling with small children, solo travelers and couples who want the value of United Economy but with a little extra comfort.”

Passengers who book the Relax Row will receive additional perks, including a fitted mattress pad, a soft blanket, and two extra pillows. Families traveling with children will also be provided with a plush toy and a dedicated travel kit.

United said the new seating option is expected to debut in 2027 and will eventually be installed on more than 200 of its Boeing 787 and 777 widebody aircraft by 2030.

The Relax Row section will be positioned between standard economy seating and United Premium Plus, with each eligible aircraft offering as many as 12 of these upgraded rows.

Airline officials said the initiative reflects growing demand among travelers for more comfortable flying options.

“Customers traveling in United Economy on long-haul flights deserve an option for more space and comfort, and this is one way we can deliver that for them,” said Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “United is the only North American airline offering a product like the United Relax Row.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran announced Wednesday that it launched cruise missiles toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, escalating tensions just hours after its military leadership rejected any possibility of reaching an agreement with the United States to end the war.

The semiofficial Fars News Agency, closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the strike “forc[ed] the American naval fleet to change position.”

US Central Command did not immediately respond to the claim. In previous instances, however, CENTCOM has used social media to dispute Iranian assertions that American naval assets, including the Lincoln, had been successfully targeted.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been operating in the Arabian Sea as part of Operation Epic Fury, which is nearing the end of its fourth week on Friday.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Trump told reporters that Iran had “shot 100 missiles at one of our aircraft carriers, one of the biggest ships in the world, actually.

“Out of 101 missiles, every single one of them was knocked down.”

The reported missile launches came shortly after a senior Iranian military spokesman issued a forceful rejection of any negotiations with Washington, following the transmission of a 15-point US peace proposal through Pakistani intermediaries.

“Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you. Not now, not ever,” Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in a video shared by Fars.

“The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure,” he added. “The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don’t dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, the American proposal includes sweeping requirements for Iran, such as dismantling its nuclear infrastructure, abandoning any pursuit of nuclear weapons, transferring enriched uranium to international oversight, limiting its missile capabilities strictly to defensive purposes, ensuring open passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and ending support for terrorist proxy groups.

Tehran has countered with its own demands, including the complete lifting of sanctions and the removal of US military forces from the Persian Gulf—conditions that a US official described as “ridiculous and unrealistic,” according to the Journal.

There has been no indication that diplomatic efforts have reduced the intensity of the fighting.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli military reported carrying out “several waves of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran” and said additional details would be released later.

The day before, the Israel Defense Forces said it had struck military production facilities in Isfahan, including sites used for submarine construction and naval support operations.

In a separate update, Israel’s defense ministry stated that more than 15,000 strikes have been conducted against Iran since combat began on Feb. 28, a figure more than four times higher than the number of strikes carried out during the 12-day conflict with the Islamic Republic last June.

{Matzav.com}

Iran on Wednesday dismissed President Trump’s proposed 15-point framework to end the war, instead presenting its own far-reaching conditions that would significantly expand its regional control and influence.

Despite Trump’s assertion that Tehran had accepted key elements of his plan, including abandoning its pursuit of nuclear weapons, Iranian officials told mediators the proposal was unacceptable, according to reports from state media.

In response, Iranian lawmakers outlined an alternative set of terms under which the Islamic Republic would assume authority over the Strait of Hormuz and take responsibility for securing it, as well as safeguarding its network of allied forces abroad.

At the same time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has tightened its grip over what remains of Iran’s governing structure, signaled no willingness to de-escalate. The group said the conflict would continue until the United States shuts down all of its military installations in the Gulf and compensates Iran for damages caused by American strikes.

Iran’s leadership is also demanding complete American withdrawal from the region and insists on exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

Under Tehran’s proposal, Iran would be permitted to levy transit fees on vessels moving through the strait, mirroring Egypt’s model with the Suez Canal. This potential revenue stream would be paired with a full lifting of international sanctions imposed on the regime.

In addition, Iran is calling for a permanent cessation of hostilities, including an end to Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist organization operating in Lebanon.

While Iran’s proposal did not directly address its nuclear program, it made clear that its missile capabilities are not open for negotiation and would remain intact without restriction.

The Iranian terms stand in stark contrast to Trump’s plan, which a U.S. official described as “ridiculous” and “unrealistic,” according to the WSJ.

Key elements of the American proposal, many of which were reported by Israel’s Channel 12, include a series of sweeping requirements placed on Tehran.

1. Iran must dismantle existing nuclear capabilities.

2. Iran must commit never to pursue nuclear weapons.

3. No uranium enrichment on Iranian territory.

4. Iran must hand its stockpile of enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

5. The Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo nuclear facilities must be dismantled.

6. The IAEA must be granted full access to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

7. Iran must abandon its “regional proxy paradigm.”

8. Iran must cease funding, directing and arming its proxies.

9. The Strait of Hormuz must remain open.

10. Iran’s missile program must be limited in both range and quantity.

11. Iran must limit its use of missiles to self-defense.

In return, Iran would receive the following:

12. The end of sanctions imposed by the international community.

13. US assistance to advance its civilian nuclear program.

14. A “snapback” mechanism allowing for the automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran fails to comply would be removed.

Iranian officials have rejected these conditions outright, with a senior figure telling PressTV that the demands are “excessive” and disconnected from realities on the ground, particularly as the United States has yet to achieve its objectives nearly a month into the conflict.

“Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met,” the official said.

“The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion,” he added.

With Washington and Tehran still avoiding direct talks, regional mediators in the Middle East are continuing efforts to bridge the divide and reach a negotiated resolution to the conflict.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has directed the military to intensify its campaign against Iran’s weapons infrastructure, ordering that as much of the country’s arms industry as possible be destroyed within 48 hours, according to a report published Tuesday by The New York Times.

The directive came after Netanyahu reviewed a copy of the United States’ proposed 15-point framework aimed at ending the war, the report said.

Responding on Monday to President Trump’s comments about ongoing contacts with Iranian officials, Netanyahu made clear that Israel would continue acting to protect its own security interests regardless of any diplomatic developments involving Washington.

“Earlier today, I spoke with our friend, President Trump. He believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement that will preserve our vital interests,” Netanyahu said.

He added, “At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon, dismantling the missile and nuclear program piece by piece, and continuing to deal severe blows to Hezbollah.”

“Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and more actions are forthcoming. We will safeguard our vital interests under all circumstances,” the Prime Minister concluded.

Meanwhile, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Iran has rejected the American proposal and has reverted to its earlier demands—conditions Washington had already dismissed before the war began.

Iranian officials also publicly derided the diplomatic effort. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard’s emergency command, mocked the U.S. president’s approach, saying he is “negotiating with himself.”

{Matzav.com}