April 7, 2025 – Runway, a leading innovator in AI-driven creative tools, has unveiled its latest breakthrough: Gen-4 Turbo. Announced via the company’s official X account (@runwayml), this new video generation model promises to revolutionize workflows for creators by producing a 10-second video in just 30 seconds—a significant leap in speed and efficiency. Now available across all Runway plans, Gen-4 Turbo is designed for rapid iteration and creative exploration, making it a game-changer for professionals in art, entertainment, and digital content creation.
A Leap in Speed and Efficiency
Gen-4 Turbo builds on the capabilities of its predecessor, Gen-4, delivering outputs five times faster while costing less than half as much to operate, according to Runway’s team. In internal evaluations, the model’s outputs were preferred 90% of the time over those of the non-Turbo Gen-3 Alpha, showcasing improvements in color consistency, motion detail, and prompt responsiveness. “The speed and quality of this model are unmatched,” said X user@notiansans, echoing the excitement shared across the platform.
The launch has sparked widespread enthusiasm among creators and AI enthusiasts. “This is me kissing the@runwayml team right now 
,” posted@AlinTiganus, praising the model’s quality as a “big step up” from previous generations. Others, like@WesRothMoney, highlighted its potential for creative production, calling the speed “wild.”
What Makes Gen-4 Turbo Stand Out?
Runway’s Gen-4 Turbo is part of the company’s ongoing mission to empower human imagination through AI. The model allows users to generate high-quality videos in 5 or 10-second durations using an input image and a text prompt. The Turbo version enhances this process by slashing generation time to 30 seconds for a 10-second clip, compared to longer wait times with earlier models. It also uses just 5 credits per second of video, making it more cost-effective than the standard Gen-4 model, which requires 12 credits per second.
Beyond speed, Gen-4 Turbo offers improved control and flexibility. Users have noted its ability to maintain color consistency and motion detail, addressing common pain points in AI video generation. “No color shifting. No quality change over time,” said@andyorsow, commending the model’s stability. Runway also recommends starting with Turbo for quick ideation before switching to Gen-4 for more refined outputs, a strategy that balances speed and quality.
How to Use Gen-4 Turbo: A Step-by-Step Guide
For those eager to try Gen-4 Turbo, here’s a straightforward guide to get started with Runway’s video generation tool:
- Sign Up or Log In: Visit runwayml.com and create an account or log into your existing one. Gen-4 Turbo is available across all plans, including the free tier.
- Access the Dashboard: From the homepage, select “Generate Video” to enter a generative session.
- Select the Model: In the bottom left corner, choose “Gen-4 Turbo” from the model selector dropdown.
- Upload an Input Image: Gen-4 Turbo requires an input image as the visual starting point. Upload an image that reflects your desired style, composition, and lighting. This will serve as the first frame of your video.
- Write a Text Prompt: Focus your prompt on the motion you want in the video, as the input image already defines the visual elements. For example, “A bird flying across a statue” (as seen in Runway’s announcement image). Check Runway’s Gen-4 Prompting Guide for best practices.
- Adjust Settings: Review optional settings like video duration (5 or 10 seconds) and camera control for motion direction. These can be configured via the settings icon in the bottom left.
- Generate the Video: Click “Generate” to create your video. In just 30 seconds, you’ll have a 10-second clip ready to review.
- Refine and Export: Once generated, you can favorite, upscale, or download the video as an MP4 or GIF. Use additional tools like “Extend” to lengthen the video or “Video to Video” for further edits, as outlined in Runway’s Creating with Gen-4 guide.
Looking Ahead
The release of Gen-4 Turbo has already sparked discussions about future enhancements. X user@AIWarper asked about the possibility of first-frame generation with Gen-4, while@AustinArmstrong inquired if the speed boost could help creators overcome traditional workflow bottlenecks. Runway’s team has not yet responded to these queries, but the company’s track record suggests more innovations are on the horizon.
For now, Gen-4 Turbo stands as a powerful tool for creators seeking to iterate quickly without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re a filmmaker, animator, or digital artist, this model offers a faster, more affordable way to bring your ideas to life. As@KarolineGeorges demonstrated with her “Nocturne Crowns” experiment, the creative possibilities are endless.
For more details, visit Runway’s official website at runwayml.com or follow@runwayml on X for the latest updates.