Sakana AI

Sakana AI is a Tokyo-based artificial intelligence research laboratory founded in 2023 by former Google Brain researchers David Ha and Llion Jones (co-author of the Transformer paper). The company focuses on developing smaller, more efficient AI models inspired by biological systems and collective intelligence found in nature. Sakana has raised over $200M and represents Japan's bid to attract top global AI talent.

Sakana AI represents a new model for AI research in Japan — globally competitive, English-first, and attracting top international talent to Tokyo's emerging AI ecosystem.