From Transformer to Sakana: Author Leaves Google to Pioneer Nature-Inspired AI

Sakana AI is pioneering a nature-inspired approach to artificial intelligence by developing interconnected, smaller models that function like a school of fish rather than relying on massive, monolithic architectures. Founded by former Google researchers Leon Jones and David Ha, the company aims to create leaner, more adaptable systems that prioritize efficiency and sustainability. This modular design offers a strategic advantage in managing data-related legal risks, as individual micro-models can be retrained or replaced without requiring a complete overhaul of the entire system. By basing operations in Tokyo, the startup seeks to diversify the global AI ecosystem, leveraging unique regional expertise to challenge the dominant, resource-heavy methodologies currently prevalent in Silicon Valley. This shift toward decentralized, specialized AI architectures could fundamentally transform how foundational models are built and maintained.