Runway Review — AI Video Generation Pioneer Pivoting to World Models ($5.3B Valuation)

Runway invented commercial AI video generation in 2019 — years before Sora or Kling existed. Gen-4.5 currently tops the independent Video Arena leaderboard. Lionsgate, IMAX, and AMC Networks are enterprise partners. Now the company is betting $315M on world models for robotics, simulation, and beyond. We review the platform, the controversy, and the competitive landscape.