Runway bets on video AI over language models

AI startup Runway, known for its video generation tools used in major films, is shifting its focus from text-based AI to 'world models' trained on observational data. The company believes this approach, which simulates real-world environments, represents the next frontier in artificial intelligence, potentially surpassing current language models. Runway aims to accelerate scientific discovery and problem-solving by creating digital twins of the universe that can be experimented on virtually. While valued at $5.3 billion and reporting significant revenue growth, Runway faces competition from tech giants like Google in this ambitious pursuit.