MiniMax vs Runway

Introducing MiniMax Code Mini App

MiniMax has launched Mini App inside its MiniMax Code desktop app for macOS and Windows. Mini Apps are long-running applications featuring a frontend and a Node.js backend that install as plugins, enabling persistent interaction with AI agents. The release includes the Mini App runtime, a /miniapp-creator chat tool, and an open-source community repository.

• Launched on October 22, 2026, for local sessions of the MiniMax Code desktop app across macOS and Windows.
• Mini Apps combine a frontend, a Node.js backend, and a miniapp.json manifest compatible with the MiniMax Plugin protocol.
• Includes /miniapp-creator, allowing users to generate and test working applications directly from chat prompts using automated queries and screenshot verification.

MiniMax M3.1 Flash: Redefining Agent Performance and Cost

Today, we officially roll out MiniMax M3.1 Flash. As a next-generation Flash model, M3.1 Flash delivers a generational leap in agentic tasks, coding, Computer Use and cybersecurity, while making online inference nearly three times faster and reducing usage costs by 70%.

AI News Roundup: Model Launches, Policy, and Infrastructure

This AI news digest from mid-October 2026 covers major model releases, policy updates, and infrastructure advancements. DeepSeek's V4.1 Flash 1017 is highlighted as an open-weight value leader, featuring a 552B-total/16B-active MoE architecture with a 1M-token context and MIT license. MiniMax launched M3.1 Flash, offering competitive pricing and high-speed performance. Inception introduced Mercury 3, a diffusion LLM achieving over 1,000 tokens per second. Meta unveiled Muse Wonder Full and Muse Glimmer, including a 30B open-weight agentic model. Policy developments include a potential Chinese export rule and a DHS ban on DeepSeek. Infrastructure updates feature vLLM v0.32.0. Anthropic's new Public Benefit Fund commits about 20% of equity to public good, and OpenAI hired Aleksander Madry for safety.

• DeepSeek V4.1 Flash 1017 is a 552B-total/16B-active MoE model with MIT license, scoring 45 on AA Intelligence Index.
• MiniMax M3.1 Flash is priced at $0.15/$0.60 per million input/output tokens, with weights available Oct 23.
• Inception releases Mercury 3, a diffusion LLM with 1,000+ tok/s, available on Baseten.

Half of Mobile Managers: Leadership Sees Mobile as Higher-Risk

Runway’s 2026 State of Mobile Release Management survey of 300 mobile engineering managers found 51% say company leadership views mobile as higher risk than web or backend (44% somewhat higher, 7% much higher). Top causes driving that perception are slipped release timelines (29%), post-release quality issues (26%), and leadership feeling in the dark on release status (13%). The survey also found 76% of managers see at least 24% of releases deviate from planned timelines. Runway and the article argue these risks stem from reactive release management and that improving release visibility, cadence, and distributed ownership reduces leadership concern. The article is published on MarTech Series and references Runway’s 2026 Decision Guide on mobile release management.

• Runway conducted the 2026 State of Mobile Release Management survey of 300 mobile engineering managers.
• 51% of respondents said leadership perceives mobile as higher risk than web or backend (44% somewhat higher, 7% much higher).
• Top reasons leadership confidence in mobile drops: slipped timelines (29%), post-release quality issues (26%), and leadership feeling in the dark on release status (13%).

Apple App Review Times Slow Due to AI-Made App Flood

Small and mid-sized game developers report that Apple's App Review process has slowed significantly, with approvals stretching from the expected 24-48 hours to several weeks. They attribute this to a flood of AI-generated apps and games, citing an 84% year-on-year increase in submissions. While Google Play review times remain consistent, Apple's reviews are often delayed, with generic template responses and automated rejections. Apple acknowledges the increase in submissions and states it processes an average of 378,000 submissions per week, with average review times of 1.5 days for all apps and 14 hours for minor updates, though some new apps require additional scrutiny. Developers express frustration over lost revenue and disrupted release schedules due to what they call Apple's 'poor service.'

• Apple's App Review times have stretched from 24-48 hours to weeks for new app submissions.
• AI-made apps and games caused an 84% year-on-year jump in App Store submissions (April report).
• Apple processes an average of 378,000 app submissions per week, with average review times of 1.5 days.

Runway's AI Video Agent Automates Ad Creation and Optimization

Runway, an AI video-generation startup, has launched Runway Ads, an AI agent integrated into its web app. The agent autonomously creates, localizes, and publishes ad variations across Meta, Google, and TikTok, then analyzes performance data to inform future creative iterations. In internal tests, Runway reported a 1,000% increase in ad volume, doubled ROAS, and a 41% reduction in cost per subscriber. The tool contributed to Runway's $100 million in annual recurring revenue and is initially available to select companies, with a public rollout planned. Lovable is the launch partner. Additional announcements include the open-weight model Praxis-1, the World Interface Model Solaris, and availability on the OpenAI Marketplace.

• Runway launched Runway Ads, an AI agent for creating, localizing, and publishing ad variations.
• The agent connects to Meta, Google, and TikTok accounts and uses performance data for creative iteration.
• Internal testing showed a 1,000% increase in ad volume, doubled ROAS, and a 41% decrease in cost per subscriber.