Overview of Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based research company challenging the conventional "Scaling Hypothesis" of artificial intelligence development.

Founded by key architects of the Transformer model, Sakana AI instead champions a "nature inspired intelligence" approach, emphasizing efficiency and collective systems over raw computational scale.

The core of their technology includes Evolutionary Model Merge and the AI Scientist agent, systems designed to automatically combine and optimize existing open-source models, drastically reducing energy costs.

Strategically, Sakana AI has positioned itself as the leader of Sovereign AI for Japan, forming crucial partnerships with entities like MUFG and the Ministry of Defense to modernize the nation's economy and ensure technological independence.

The analysis evaluates both the revolutionary potential and the inherent risks, such as agentic safety concerns and the challenge of competing against continuously scaling frontier models.