AI startup Runway, founded by filmmakers from Chile and Greece, is betting on a future where the world itself becomes its dataset. Unlike Google, which relies heavily on text-based models like ChatGPT, Runway believes that AI should learn directly from the real world to solve humanity’s toughest problems.

Their vision isn’t just about making cutting-edge films; it's about using video generation and world models to advance fields as diverse as drug discovery and climate modeling. Their ambition? To create a ‘digital twin’ of the universe, faster than any lab could simulate.

With its latest Gen-4.5 model already powering production workflows for major studios like Lionsgate, Runway is well on its way. But as it expands into new territories, one question looms: can they outpace giants like Google with deeper pockets?

The three co-founders, who met while studying at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, came together to democratize filmmaking through AI. Their journey from creating basic video tools to envisioning a world where every computer understands the universe reflects both technological progress and an evolving vision.