Why Runway CEO Cris Valenzuela thinks AI filmmaking is the future
Today, I’m talking with Runway CEO and co-founder Cris Valenzuela. This one’s special: Cris and I were live at an event in New York City last month hosted by Alix Partners, so you’ll hear the audience from time to time.
Runway is a leading AI video generation platform, and it’s getting better all the time. That puts Cris and his company on the same collision course with creators, artists, and copyright law as every other part of the AI industry — and you’ll hear Cris and I really get into all that here.
Links:
AMC Networks inks deal with AI company Runway | Hollywood Reporter
We made a film with AI. You’ll be blown away — and freaked out | WSJ
Mark Zuckerberg just declared war on the entire advertising industry | Verge
Runway says its latest AI video model can generate consistent scenes, people | Verge
Runway releases an impressive new video-generating AI model | TechCrunch
Runway Trained on Thousands of YouTube Videos Without Permission | 404 Media
Runway partners with Lionsgate to train on its catalog of video | Verge
AI companies lose bid to dismiss parts of visual artists' copyright case | Reuters
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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright.
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20VC: Why AI Models are not a Moat, Where Does the Value in AI Accrue; Startups or Incumbents, What the World Has Got Wrong About AI, Why AI Needs a New Story and Who is the Right People to Tell it with Cris Valenzuela, Co-Founder & CEO @ Runway
Cris Valenzuela is the CEO and co-founder of Runway, the company that trains and builds generative AI models for content creation. To date, Cris has raised over $285M for the company from the likes of Lux Capital, Felicis, Coatue, Amplify, and Nvidia to name a few. Runway's customers include academy-nominated movies, TV shows, media companies, and creatives across industries.
In Today's Episode with Cris Valenzuela We Discuss:
1. From Childhood in Chile to Founding one of the Hottest AI Startups:
What was the founding moment for Cris with Runway?
His investors described Cris as an "outsider". Does Cris believe he is an outsider? What are the biggest pros and cons of being an outsider?
What does Cris believe he is running from? What is he running towards?
2. Models are not a Moat: Models 101:
What does Cris believe is more important; model size or data size?
Why does Cris believe that models are not a moat?
How does Cris think about the lifespan of models? Will any used today be used in a year?
Are hallucinations a feature or a bug? What are the nuances?
3. The World Has Got AI Wrong: We Need Different Stories:
Why does Cris believe the world has got AI wrong?
Why do we need different stories for what AI can do and will be? Who should tell them?
Why do groups like screenwriters riot and protest if the tool is empowering and not replacing?
4. Company Building 101: Hiring and Fundraising:
What are the biggest pieces of startup advice that are total BS?
What has been the single biggest lesson Cris has learned when it comes to fundraising?
Does Cris believe that VCs really add value?
What have been the single biggest hiring mistakes that Cris has made?
How has Cris structured their interview process to make it the best interview process in the world?