- Sakana AI, founded by former Google researchers, introduces novel AI models inspired by evolutionary principles.
- The startup utilizes the “model merging” technique, blending existing AI models to create innovative solutions.
- Two Japanese language models are open-sourced, showcasing Sakana AI’s commitment to advancing AI accessibility.
- Founders David Ha and Llion Jones bring extensive experience from Google, contributing to the company’s credibility and expertise.
- Sakana AI aims to position Tokyo as a prominent AI hub, following the success of similar ventures in San Francisco and London.
- The company secured $30 million in seed financing, indicating investor confidence in its potential for growth and innovation.
Main AI News:
Sakana AI, a pioneering Tokyo-based artificial intelligence startup established by two distinguished former Google researchers, unveiled its latest AI models on Wednesday. These models, crafted through an innovative method inspired by evolution, mirror the processes of breeding and natural selection. The company employed a groundbreaking technique known as “model merging,” which amalgamates existing AI models to birth a new model. This approach, coupled with evolutionary principles, has given rise to hundreds of successive model generations. Within this framework, the most successful models of each iteration emerge as the progenitors of the subsequent generation.
According to David Ha, founder of Sakana AI, speaking to Reuters from Tokyo, the company is rolling out three Japanese language models, two of which will be open-sourced. Ha, alongside co-founder Llion Jones, who are both former luminaries at Google, embarks on this venture with a wealth of experience and expertise. Notably, Jones co-authored Google’s seminal 2017 research paper titled “Attention Is All You Need,” which introduced the transformative “transformer” deep learning architecture. This architectural breakthrough laid the foundation for the widely acclaimed ChatGPT chatbot, igniting a fervent pursuit in generative AI-powered products.
Prior to co-founding Sakana AI, Ha served as the head of research at Stability AI and held a tenure as a Google Brain researcher. The departure of all authors of the groundbreaking Google paper underscores the dynamic landscape of AI research and development, with former collaborators venturing into new territories.
Venture capital firms have demonstrated considerable confidence in these ventures, injecting substantial funding into burgeoning startups. Notable among these investments are Noam Shazeer’s AI chatbot startup, Character.AI, and Aidan Gomez’s Cohere, which specializes in large language models. Sakana AI, with its ambitious vision, aims to position Tokyo as a formidable AI hub, following the footsteps of industry pioneers like OpenAI in San Francisco and DeepMind in London.
In a testament to its potential, Sakana AI announced securing $30 million in seed financing in January, led by Lux Capital. This significant investment underscores the growing prominence of AI startups and Tokyo’s burgeoning role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Conclusion:
Sakana AI’s emergence as a leading player in Tokyo’s AI landscape signifies the city’s growing prominence as a global technology hub. With its innovative approach to model development and substantial funding support, Sakana AI is poised to drive significant advancements in artificial intelligence, paving the way for transformative applications across various industries. Investors and stakeholders should closely monitor the company’s trajectory as it continues to shape the future of AI innovation in Japan and beyond.
