Adobe has announced a groundbreaking multi-year strategic partnership with AI video specialist Runway, a move that promises to transform professional video production. This collaboration grants Adobe Firefly users early and exclusive access to Runway’s latest generative video model, setting the stage for the joint development of innovative tools tailored for professional workflows.
The partnership designates Adobe as Runway’s preferred API creativity partner, allowing Adobe early access to Runway’s cutting-edge models. The integration begins with Gen-4.5, which is currently accessible for a limited period within the Adobe Firefly app and on Runway’s platform.
Exclusive Access and Joint Development
Under the agreement, Adobe and Runway will co-develop specialized AI features for video workflows, which will be exclusive to Adobe applications. The initial focus is on Firefly, with plans to extend these innovations across Adobe’s broader suite, including Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Firefly users are now able to access Runway’s Gen-4.5 model ahead of its public rollout. This model represents the latest in text-to-video and other generative video formats, enhancing Adobe’s existing Firefly models and partner integrations.
Advanced Features of Gen-4.5
Gen-4.5 is designed to improve motion quality, prompt adherence, and visual fidelity. It supports dynamic and controllable action with strong temporal consistency across different generation modes. Users can generate short video clips from text prompts, adjust visual style, pacing, and motion, and then refine these clips in Firefly’s video editor.
These AI-generated clips can be seamlessly integrated into Adobe’s Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other Creative Cloud tools for further refinement, color work, compositing, and audio integration.
Industry Impact and Expert Opinions
According to Ely Greenfield, Adobe’s Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Digital Media, this collaboration is set to empower professionals already utilizing Adobe’s creative ecosystem.
“As AI transforms video production, pros are turning to Adobe’s creative ecosystem – from Firefly to Premiere to After Effects – to imagine, craft, and scale their stories across every screen,” said Greenfield. “Runway’s generative video innovation combined with Adobe’s trusted pro workflows will help creators and brands expand their creative potential and meet the growing demands of modern content and media production.”
Cristóbal Valenzuela, co-founder and CEO of Runway, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the reach of their latest model through integration with widely used creative software.
“We’re building AI tools that are redefining creativity, storytelling, and entertainment, with Gen-4.5 as the latest example,” said Valenzuela. “This partnership puts our latest generative video technology in front of more storytellers, inside Adobe’s creative tools that are already the industry standard for many creators around the world.”
Focusing on Professional Workflows
The collaboration aims to work directly with independent filmmakers, major studios, creative agencies, streaming platforms, large brands, and enterprises. The goal is to integrate these AI video features into existing Adobe products that are already part of many production pipelines.
Rather than offering stand-alone experimentation tools, the focus is on embedding generative video into day-to-day workflows. From concept visualization to final editing, Gen-4.5 supports complex, multi-element scenes, precise compositions, and simulated physics. It generates expressive characters with consistent gestures and facial performances across multiple shots, making it ideal for storyboarding, animatics, concept sequences, and marketing content.
Model Choice and Control
Adobe is positioning Firefly as a hub for a range of generative AI models across video, audio, imaging, and design. Within Firefly, users can choose from Adobe’s own models, Runway models, and other partner models from companies like Black Forest Labs, ElevenLabs, Google, Luma AI, OpenAI, and Topaz Labs. Additionally, Firefly Custom Models offer creators the ability to train models for specific visual styles.
Importantly, Adobe assures that content generated in the Firefly app does not feed back into training datasets for generative AI models, maintaining a creator-first approach and emphasizing AI as a tool under human control.
Looking Ahead
Runway’s Gen-4.5 model is now available within the Adobe Firefly app and through Runway’s own service. Adobe customers on a Firefly Pro plan benefit from unlimited generations during an initial promotional period.
Both Adobe and Runway are planning further joint releases of video models and workflow integrations. Firefly customers will continue to receive first access to new Runway models through Adobe’s creative tools before they become widely available.
This partnership represents a significant step forward in the integration of AI into professional video production, offering creators powerful new tools to meet the evolving demands of the digital media landscape.
