Sakana AI Secures Investment from Nvidia, Aims to Democratize AI in Japan
Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based startup specializing in generative artificial intelligence, announced on September 4th that it has received a significant investment from Nvidia, the world's leading AI chipmaker. This investment marks a major milestone for the young company, propelling it into the ranks of unicorn startups valued at over $1 billion.
The amount of Nvidia's investment remains undisclosed, but it is expected to make the chipmaker a major shareholder in Sakana AI. This partnership grants Sakana AI priority access to Nvidia's latest GPUs, essential for developing and operating advanced AI models.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised Sakana AI's use of Nvidia's platform to develop cutting-edge foundation models and its contribution to democratizing AI in Japan. This investment aligns with Nvidia's broader strategy of expanding its reach in the AI development landscape, potentially positioning Sakana AI as its key partner in Japan.
Founded in 2021 by former Google AI researchers, Sakana AI distinguishes itself through its unique approach to AI development. The company's name, meaning "fish" in Japanese, reflects its logo – a single red fish swimming away from its school, symbolizing its independent path in the field.
Sakana AI specializes in developing foundation AI models capable of generating text and images. Their strength lies in combining existing models to create high-performance AI models quickly and cost-effectively. One notable project, Evo-Ukiyoe, involved training their AI to generate artwork in the style of traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
While established players like Google and OpenAI dominate the AI development landscape, concerns regarding rising power consumption and overheated investments are growing. Sakana AI's unique approach and innovative technologies offer a promising alternative, raising expectations for its potential to disrupt the industry.