Runway Launches Aleph, a Breakthrough In‑Context Video Editing Model

Runway Aleph marks a significant leap in generative video tooling. Announced July 25, the model operates fully in-context. It understands and manipulates video footage without requiring segmentation, tracking, or other pre-processing. This enables multi-step editing tasks to be executed with a single prompt. These tasks include changing backgrounds, reimagining lighting, or tweaking character appearances.

For creative professionals, the implications are large. Aleph compresses traditional VFX workflows that would normally span days into seconds. Use cases range from indie filmmakers needing low-cost effects to enterprise marketing teams seeking quick-turn global campaigns. The model integrates tightly into Runway’s existing platform. This further positions the company as a serious player in generative video infrastructure.

Aleph’s object manipulation feature allows creators to add or erase elements from footage with a prompt. This replaces the need for time-consuming masking or rotoscoping. The model’s camera reorientation feature lets users generate new angles from existing footage. This opens up post-production flexibility typically only possible with reshoots. Its style and lighting transformations provide cinematic control over tone and mood. This eliminates the need for additional gear. Character appearance editing enables seamless costume, face, or body alterations. Real-time relighting brings dynamic lighting changes to static environments. Automatic green-screen extraction removes backgrounds without a chroma key setup.