How Runway Hopes to Outrun OpenAI, Google in the AI Video Race

The valuable startup wants to let the giants jostle for the mass market while it focuses on winning over industry professionals and a landmark deal with Lionsgate.

There are two basic ways for startup founders to respond when much larger competitors encroach on their realm. They can soldier on with heads down and voices low, in silent determination.

Or they can do as the founders of Runway did when the likes of Google and OpenAI entered the AI video field Runway helped pioneer: They can respond with swagger, hoping to leave observers wondering who the true underdog really is in this fight.