住友商事联合SCSK将Sakana AI模型推广至约10万家客户，但未披露订单或收入承诺

TOKYO -- Major Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp. has partnered with Sakana AI to bring the startup's artificial-intelligence models to its 100,000 or so client companies, helping the Tokyo-based company sell its solutions even to small businesses and giving a huge push to Japan's homegrown technology.
The alliance includes Sumitomo, its computer system development subsidiary SCSK and Sakana AI. SCSK has expertise in providing support for AI adoption. The partnership is expected to broaden Sakana AI's reach, as adoption of its AI models so far has been limited to financial institutions and other big companies.
Sakana AI's models are said to be comparable to cutting-edge overseas models. In June, it released Sakana Fugu, a large language model that can orchestrate multiple AI models to provide the optimal output.
Based on Fugu, the startup recently launched a model dedicated to cybersecurity.
Adoption of domestically developed AI models has become a focus, especially as security concerns grow. The U.S. government earlier this year ordered Anthropic to suspend foreign access to its advanced AI model, Claude Mythos.
Under the alliance, Sakana AI will design and develop AI models and applications, while SCSK will support client companies in organizing data and integrating AI models with existing systems. Sumitomo will connect Sakana AI with its broad base of clients at home and abroad, and utilize the startup's AI technology in its own urban development and other social infrastructure businesses.
The alliance will initially focus on clients like financial institutions and manufacturers that have strict security requirements, helping them improve operational efficiency through the use of AI. Services will eventually expand to midsize and small businesses.
The partners also plan to work on products and services that can help discover and correct vulnerabilities in a client's system or software, as well as provide tailor-made AI services for each client.
Japanese companies have fallen behind U.S. and Chinese rivals in leveraging AI for structural and operational reforms. Japan Inc. has been cautious, partially due to security concerns, as full-fledged adoption would mean exposing confidential data to a generative AI model. The Japanese language and other traits unique to Japan have also kept foreign AI services at bay.
Japanese companies and the government have high expectations for Sakana AI as a provider of AI models that do not rely on overseas companies' services.