My Honest Review of OpenAI’s Sora (And How It Compares With Other AI Video Generators)

By Diana Dovgopol

These days, artificial intelligence has completely revolutionized the way we create and share video content. From heartwarming animal montages to professional-level beauty blogs, AI tools can now help you generate stunning videos without needing a camera crew or even stepping in front of a lens.

Two major players in the AI video generation space are OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo2. After hands-on testing of both tools, I found that they excel in very different ways depending on video format and content. Below, I’ll walk you through my experience using Sora, evaluating its performance through the lens of common video use cases — and how it stacks up to Veo2.

1. Beauty Tutorial Video

Let’s say you’re starting your own beauty blog or YouTube channel, but you don’t want to spend hours filming yourself doing different makeup looks. You might want to use AI to auto-generate clean, professional-looking makeup tutorials and product demos.

To test this, I gave Sora a basic prompt for a classic makeup tutorial — imagine a person applying foundation, seamlessly moving into eyeshadow blending, and finishing with a lipstick application.

Sora’s Performance on Beauty Content

Unfortunately, the results were underwhelming. The generated model had an awkward, unnatural flow. Hand movements didn’t align with the face properly. The brush floated unpredictably, and basic gestures — like dabbing or blending — lacked coordination. Overall, it felt disjointed and amateurish.

If you’re a beauty content creator looking for polished AI-generated videos, Sora might not yet be up to par for beauty-focused content. The lack of fluidity could be distracting — or even misleading — for audiences trying to learn actual makeup techniques.

Veo2’s Take on Beauty Videos

In contrast, Veo2 generated a much more lifelike tutorial. The subject’s hand gestures were smooth, brush placement looked purposeful, and transitions between products felt natural. If you placed this AI video next to a human-produced one, most viewers wouldn’t tell the difference.

So for beauty bloggers, Veo2 currently offers the more reliable, realistic visuals.

2. Vlog-Style Video

Up next, I tested how Sora performs when tasked with creating casual, vlog-style clips. Think: a person walking through a city, sipping coffee, or narrating a day-in-the-life type story. These clips typically require fluid camera angles, realistic environments, and human expressions to feel authentic.

Sora’s Vlogging Capabilities

This time, Sora did a better job. The generated scenes were visually appealing — bustling city backdrops, decent daylight simulation, and more well-synced human figures. There was still the occasional uncanny valley moment, like overly stiff facial expressions or jerky hand movements, but the overall experience was much more believable than the beauty tutorial attempt.

While not perfect, this format seems to be a stronger use case for Sora. If you’re a lifestyle content creator or someone who wants fast AI-generated vlogs, Sora could save you time and equipment costs.

How Veo2 Compares in Vlogging

Once again, Veo2 demonstrated superior polish. The AI-generated subjects looked more expressive, and real-world physics (like how clothing moved with a breeze) were better rendered. Camera movement was also more natural and immersive — think dynamic pans and accurate lighting transitions. Veo2 gives a more cinematic take, while Sora feels more like early-stage footage.

3. Athletic Videos and Movement

Next up, I wanted to stress-test the AIs with fast-paced content. I asked both systems to generate a short clip of a person sprinting on a track, then doing a series of jumping jacks and yoga stretches.

Sora’s Take on Athletics

The results were mixed. While Sora was able to produce a reasonably accurate running sequence, the transitions into post-exercise stretching didn’t flow well. Some limbs distorted slightly, and object tracking (such as a shadow or yoga mat) became inconsistent. The rendering of fast movements remains a challenge.

Veo2 Nails It Again

As expected, Veo2 handled fluid motion better. Movements were crisp and responsive, with far fewer visual glitches. Even subtle actions like footlandings and breath-like animations were portrayed realistically. For sports content, where motion realism is critical, Veo2 is the clear winner again.

Final Verdict: Is Sora Worth It?

OpenAI’s Sora has potential, especially for creators in need of quick mockups or concept videos. With well-lit or slow-paced scenes, it can deliver passable results without needing complex prompts. However, in high-motion, beauty, or high-detail executions, it still has kinks to work out.

Meanwhile, Google’s Veo2 feels like a more polished and dependable solution across a range of content types. It excels in facial realism, hand motion, scene transitions, and even subtle details like environmental shifts.

If you’re a professional video creator looking to integrate AI, I’d recommend using Veo2 for content you’ll publish, while keeping an eye on Sora as it matures. As the AI race continues, we can expect rapid improvements on both fronts.

Conclusion

AI video generation is already changing the content creation landscape — and tools like Sora and Veo2 are proof of what’s possible. While OpenAI’s Sora may not yet be perfect, it’s a promising glimpse into the future of AI-powered film. On the other hand, Google’s Veo2 has already leapt ahead in realism, making it the go-to option for now.

As always, the best tool depends on your needs. Try them both — and let innovation work in your favor.