Google Invests in Sakana AI to Strengthen Gemini's Position in Japanese Market
Published on: Jan. 23, 2026, 12:52 p.m. | Source: scanx.trade
Google has strategically invested in Japanese AI startup Sakana AI following its $135 million Series B round valued at $2.6 billion. The partnership aims to strengthen Google's Gemini chatbot position in Japan's corporate market against ChatGPT, while providing Sakana enhanced access to Alphabet's language models. Founded in 2023 by former Google Brain researcher David Ha, Sakana has secured major contracts with Japanese financial institutions and plans expansion into defense and international markets.
