Oh, you believed the holiday season would bring tranquility on Earth—or at least serenity online? Well, OpenAI has different intentions.

Beginning Thursday, Dec. 5, OpenAI is launching its “12 Days of OpenAI” event, during which the company will introduce a new product or feature each day for 12 straight days. The announcement, made on Wednesday, promises a blend of significant launches and smaller updates, ensuring a continuous flow of AI-related news throughout the festive season.

### Major Releases and Little Treats

One of the most awaited announcements during this event is the potential debut of OpenAI’s AI video generator, Sora. According to *The Verge*, Sora is anticipated to be one of the most prominent launches for OpenAI in recent times. However, not every day will showcase a blockbuster release. OpenAI representative Leah Anise clarified, “Not every day will feature a major launch—the 12 days will include some smaller treats and some grander gifts.”

For instance, minor updates could encompass holiday-themed features, such as a cheerful voice for ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode. This speculation arises from a user who spotted a new voice option and a snowflake icon concealed within ChatGPT’s code.

### The Debate Surrounding Sora

Since OpenAI revealed Sora, which is presently in a closed research preview, the AI video generator has sparked significant discourse. The model is said to produce highly detailed, photorealistic videos from basic text prompts, yet OpenAI has been tight-lipped about its training data. This opacity has prompted many to theorize that Sora was trained on human-generated content from platforms like YouTube and various corners of the internet.

Compounding the issue, some Sora testers recently leaked its API access as a protest. These testers accused OpenAI of using them to “art wash” the technology, asserting that the company attempts to promote Sora as an artist’s tool while ignoring ethical dilemmas. If Sora is indeed launched during the “12 Days of OpenAI,” it’s likely to rekindle discussions about the ethical ramifications of AI tools—just in time for the holiday season.

### A Season of AI Surprises

While the “12 Days of OpenAI” aims to keep the tech community abuzz, it’s evident that the event will blend excitement with controversy. Whether it’s groundbreaking offerings like Sora or smaller, festive enhancements, OpenAI is making sure that AI stays at the forefront of the dialogue this holiday period. And for those of us wanting to concentrate on chestnuts roasting on an open fire, it seems the AI discussion will be impossible to overlook.