Key Takeaways:
- Sakana AI is forming strategic partnerships in Japan to enhance the country’s AI infrastructure.
- It focuses on energy-efficient AI models tailored to Japan’s resource needs.
- Collaborations with Nvidia include AI research and data center development.
- David Ha and Llion Jones lead the company, leveraging experience from Google Brain.
- Sakana AI supports Japan’s efforts to build a self-sustaining AI ecosystem amidst global tech challenges.
Tokyo-based Sakana AI, a rising player in the artificial intelligence (AI) field, is positioning itself at the forefront of Japan’s efforts to strengthen its domestic AI infrastructure.
Amid growing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, Japan is keen to advance its AI capabilities, and Sakana AI’s recent funding success, including over $100 million from investors like Nvidia, is in a prime position to lead this initiative.
Must read – Nvidia Becomes Major Shareholder with $100 M Sakana AI Serie A,
Sakana AI uses evolutionary algorithms to automate the creation of new AI foundation models by merging existing open-source models.
Their “Evolutionary Model Merge” technique efficiently combines models, creating robust AI systems, such as Japanese language and vision-language models, without costly training. This approach is energy-efficient and well-suited for developing advanced AI in resource-limited environments.
Sakana AI is exploring strategic partnerships within Japan to foster collaboration in AI research, data center development, and other critical areas.
David Ha, co-founder and CEO, highlighted Japan’s unique needs, particularly in light of its resource constraints and reliance on energy imports.
Sakana’s approach, which emphasizes using smaller, energy-efficient AI models working together, contrasts with larger foundational models and is particularly well-suited to Japan’s economic and environmental landscape.
Introducing Evolutionary Model Merge: A new approach bringing us closer to automating foundation model development. We use evolution to find great ways of combining open-source models, building new powerful foundation models with user-specified abilities!https://t.co/G0EyM7pztr pic.twitter.com/msOokvqGbR
— Sakana AI (@SakanaAILabs) March 21, 2024
With around 20 employees and leadership steeped in AI expertise—Ha having led Google Brain’s Tokyo research team and co-founder Llion Jones being a co-author of key AI research—Sakana AI is leveraging its Nvidia partnership to propel Japan’s AI sector forward.
This collaboration focuses on AI infrastructure and research, ensuring Japan can build a resilient AI ecosystem to navigate technological advancements and global uncertainties.
Sakana AI’s development comes when Japan aims to reduce dependence on external AI technologies and build a self-sustaining AI ecosystem capable of competing globally.
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