Sakana Launches Fugu, a Multi-Agent Orchestration System for Frontier AI Performance

Sakana AI, an increasingly enterprise-focused AI startup, has launched Fugu, a multi-agent orchestration system that delivers frontier-level AI performance through a single, OpenAI-compatible API. Designed for developers, enterprises, and nations seeking resilience against vendor lock-in and geopolitical export controls, Fugu bypasses the traditional monolithic model structure by dynamically routing queries to a swappable pool of specialized AI agents. Sakana CEO and co-founder David Ha positioned Fugu as a more reliable option for enterprise workflows than any single AI model provider, particularly after Anthropic's move to revoke public access to its most powerful models, Claude Mythos 5 and Claude Fable 5, due to a U.S.

government export control order. As Ha wrote on X: "Fugu dynamically orchestrates the world's best models to tackle complex tasks. We are proving that a well-orchestrated pool of swappable agents can match restricted frontier models like Fable and Mythos.

Fugu operates like a master general contractor, breaking down complex requests, delegating sub-tasks to a pool of expert foundation models, verifying their work, and synthesizing the final output. The system autonomously manages the entire lifecycle of model selection and verification using learned coordination strategies rather than hand-designed workflows. Sakana offers two variants of the system: Fugu, a high-speed, low-latency model optimized for everyday tasks, and Fugu Ultra, engineered for complex, high-stakes tasks.

Fugu Ultra matches industry-leading monolithic models across rigorous scientific and reasoning benchmarks and exceeds the performance of Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 on certain tests. The system essentially builds native redundancy into the AI stack, allowing it to route around disruptions to maintain uptime. Sakana is offering Fugu as a commercial, proprietary API service, with pricing starting at $5 per million input tokens and $30 per million output tokens for Fugu Ultra.

The company has also announced a free second month for users who subscribe to any tier by July 31, 2026. The developer community has responded to Fugu by rigorously testing its practical tradeoffs, weighing its routing efficiencies against the sheer power of monolithic foundation models. While some have noted that Fugu is not a fundamental leap in intelligence, it provides a highly viable commercial path for enterprises demanding fail-safes against single-vendor reliance.

Why this matters: The launch of Fugu marks a significant shift in the AI landscape, as enterprises increasingly prioritize resilience and flexibility in their AI infrastructure. By offering a multi-agent orchestration system, Sakana AI is addressing the growing need for reliable and adaptable AI solutions that can mitigate the risks of vendor lock-in and export controls. As the AI industry continues to evolve, Fugu's innovative approach could have far-reaching implications for developers, businesses, and consumers alike, enabling more robust and efficient AI deployments.