Cohere and Aleph Alpha announced a definitive business combination agreement, forming the first transatlantic sovereign AI solution. The transaction remains subject to final regulatory approvals and is expected to close later this year.
The combined company will operate with headquarters in Berlin and Toronto, and will maintain Aleph Alpha’s Heidelberg office as a research center. The transaction will increase Cohere's employee headcount to more than 1,000 across both continents.
"Over the past twelve months, we have sharpened our focus on specialized language models for governments and regulated industries.
Cohere is a strong strategic fit for this work, bringing global reach and deployment capabilities that complement our research expertise," said Ilhan Scheer, Co-CEO, Aleph Alpha.
This partnership strengthens their ability to deliver on their mission: giving organizations control over the AI they rely on.
Cohere will expand its leadership team with two senior appointments effective upon deal close. Ilhan Scheer will become Chief Operating Officer of Coh, while Samuel Weinbach will become Chief Research Officer of Cohere. Both appointments are contingent on the transaction's completion.
The agreement follows a planned partnership announced in April of this year. The combined company will operate within the legal and regulatory frameworks of Canada and Germany, ensuring compliance with data protection and technology handling requirements.
Cohere did not specify the exact timeline for product integration details, and the company emphasized its commitment to advancing sovereign AI solutions. Further details on product development and integration will follow after the transaction closes.
Source: cohere
