New York, April 2, 2025 – Runway, a leader in artificial intelligence research, has unveiled Gen-4, its latest AI model designed to revolutionize video and image generation. Launched today, Gen-4 promises a leap in quality, offering dynamic motion, consistent styles, and unmatched control for creators. This rollout, available to all paid and enterprise users, marks a significant upgrade from its predecessor, Gen-3 Alpha, and is already making waves with its real-world applications.
What’s New with Gen-4?
Gen-4 stands out for its ability to produce high-fidelity videos with realistic motion while maintaining consistency in subjects, objects, and styles. Unlike earlier models, it excels at following prompts accurately and understanding complex scenes, setting a new benchmark for AI-generated media. By combining visual references with simple instructions, users can craft videos and images that stay true to their vision—whether it’s a consistent character across scenes or a specific location brought to life.
To showcase its potential, Runway’s team created a series of short films. The Lonely Little Flame highlights Gen-4’s storytelling power, while New York is a Zoo blends real animal references with cinematic New York shots for stunning visual effects. The Herd, a tense chase through a misty cow field, and The Retrieval, an animated quest for a mysterious flower, further demonstrate the model’s versatility—all produced in under a week.
How Does It Work?
Gen-4’s Image-to-Video feature, now available to paid subscribers, lets users turn static images into dynamic clips. Reference image support, expected soon, will make it even easier to maintain continuity across projects. The process is straightforward, blending cutting-edge tech with user-friendly design.
Tutorial: How to Use Gen-4 Image-to-Video
- Sign Up and Access: Log into your Runway account (paid or enterprise plan required). Head to the Gen-4 Image-to-Video tool at runwayml.com.
- Upload an Image: Choose a high-quality image as your starting point. This could be a character, object, or scene you want to animate.
- Write a Prompt: In a few words, describe the motion you want—e.g., “A lion roars in Times Square” or “The explorer runs through a jungle.” Keep it clear and focused.
- Set Parameters: Pick your video length (options start at a few seconds) and adjust settings like resolution or motion style if available.
- Generate: Hit the generate button and wait for Gen-4 to process your request. Results typically take a few minutes.
- Refine and Download: Preview the video, tweak the prompt or settings if needed, then download your creation.
For advanced users, combining Gen-4 with tools like Act-One (for character animation) can elevate projects further. Visit runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-gen-4 for more details and examples.
Why It Matters
Gen-4 isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a game-changer for filmmakers, artists, and content creators. Its ability to churn out production-ready visuals quickly and consistently could reshape workflows in entertainment and beyond. As Runway continues to push AI boundaries, Gen-4 signals a future where imagination meets precision, all at the click of a button.
For more on how Gen-4 was built and what’s next, check out Runway’s official research page. The creative world just got a lot bigger—and a lot smarter.