OpenAI’s Sora, its new AI-powered video generation app, has surged to No. 3 on the U.S. App Store just two days after its launch, according to data from app intelligence firm Appfigures. Despite being invite-only and initially available only to users in the U.S. and Canada, Sora achieved 56,000 downloads on its first day and reached a total of 164,000 installs across its first two days, September 30 and October 1. The app’s early performance outpaces several major AI app launches. On day one, Sora matched the debut of xAI’s Grok at 56,000 downloads, significantly surpassing Anthropic’s Claude, which saw 21,000 downloads, and Microsoft’s Copilot, which recorded just 7,000. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini had stronger day-one numbers—81,000 and 80,000 downloads respectively—Sora’s rapid climb into the top three overall apps on the U.S. App Store highlights strong consumer interest in AI-generated video tools. The app’s success is particularly notable given its limited availability. As an invite-only product, Sora’s download numbers likely represent only a fraction of potential demand. If fully open, the app could have seen significantly higher adoption, especially as users show growing appetite for creative, social-style AI experiences. Appfigures conducted its analysis by focusing only on U.S. and Canadian downloads for each app, to account for differing launch strategies. For example, while ChatGPT initially launched in the U.S. only, Grok was restricted to the U.S., Australia, and India, and Anthropic did not specify geographic limits at launch. This approach provides a more accurate comparison across the board. By day two, Sora had climbed to No. 3 on the U.S. App Store’s overall rankings, behind ChatGPT, which reached No. 1, and ahead of Grok (No. 4), Gemini (No. 6), Copilot (No. 19), and Claude (No. 78). The strong showing suggests that AI video generation is resonating with consumers in a way that goes beyond utility—evoking curiosity, entertainment, and social sharing. The viral momentum has sparked mixed reactions within OpenAI. While some internal voices have pushed for the company to focus on solving complex, high-impact global challenges, the public’s enthusiasm for playful, creative AI tools—such as generating humorous deepfakes of CEO Sam Altman asking, “Are my piggies enjoying their slop?”—underscores a growing demand for accessible, engaging AI experiences. Sora’s rapid rise signals a shift in how consumers are engaging with AI: not just as productivity tools, but as platforms for creativity and expression. As OpenAI continues to refine its product and expand access, the app’s trajectory could shape the future of AI-driven content creation.