In a bold move, several high-profile AI companies are expanding their presence in Montréal, aiming to harness the city’s rich pool of talent and accelerate their French-language product offerings.
AI Giants Set Their Sights on Montréal’s Talent Pool
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, four major companies—Alexa Translations from Toronto, along with U.S.-based firms Terzo, SafelyYou, and Ampliwork—are making a significant push to expand their offices in Montréal. This move comes as the city garners attention for its thriving AI ecosystem, backed by top-tier research institutions and attractive tax incentives.
These companies are collectively aiming to hire 220 AI specialists in Montréal over the next three years, a strategic initiative to enhance their AI capabilities and foster local growth. According to Stéphane Paquet, CEO of Montréal International, the influx of talent is a testament to the city’s increasing prominence in the AI sector.
Alexa Translations Leads the Charge with Advanced Language Models
Alexa Translations, a Toronto-based AI company, is at the forefront of this expansion. The company, known for its machine learning-powered legal and financial translation services, is adding 10 new hires to its Montréal team to further enhance its Québec French offerings. This is in line with the company’s ambition to refine its Infinite MT large-language model (LLM), which promises to revolutionize translation accuracy for high-stakes legal and business contexts.
Giovanni Iacovino, VP of Technology at Alexa Translations, emphasized the company’s search for individuals passionate about contributing to a fast-growing company. The Infinite MT model aims to provide more nuanced translations across English, French, Arabic, and Spanish while continuously improving its flexibility.
“We’re looking for individuals who are eager to make an impact and drive results as we refine our offerings for businesses in need of high-level translations,” said Iacovino.
Why Montréal is the AI Talent Hub
The strategic expansion in Montréal is driven by several factors, including the rich talent pool and generous R&D tax credits, making it an ideal destination for AI firms looking to scale their research and development efforts.
Ampliwork, a Boston-based AI startup, is another major player ramping up its operations in Montréal. The company, which specializes in custom AI agents, plans to hire 150 people in the next three years. The expansion is fueled by R&D tax credits such as those provided under the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program, which offer substantial financial incentives for companies investing in technological innovation.
Marco Buchbinder, founder and CEO of Ampliwork, explained the reasoning behind the decision: “Montréal offers an exceptional talent pool and the kind of research environment we need to scale our R&D efforts globally.”
SafelyYou and Terzo Capitalize on Montréal’s AI Expertise
SafelyYou, a San Francisco-based AI company that uses AI to monitor and enhance safety in senior living facilities, is another major tech firm to benefit from Montréal’s talent-rich ecosystem. The company is recruiting 50 AI experts to further its R&D in AI-powered fall detection systems. Loïc Juillard, CTO of SafelyYou, stated that Montréal’s strong research community provides the perfect environment for the company to expand its innovative solutions.
“This city offers the perfect blend of hardware, software, and AI expertise,” said Juillard. “It’s a great ecosystem for us to tap into.”
Meanwhile, Terzo, a Los Angeles-based fintech company, is hiring 12 engineers, analysts, and researchers to improve its multilingual financial intelligence platform. The expansion into Montréal allows Terzo to enhance its product offerings and cater to a broader European client base.
The AI Boom in Montréal: What’s Next?
With major players like Alexa Translations, Ampliwork, SafelyYou, and Terzo tapping into the city’s immense AI potential, Montréal is fast becoming a hub for AI innovation. The city’s combination of research expertise, tax incentives, and a skilled workforce is making it an attractive destination for global tech firms looking to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence.
As more companies flock to Montréal in search of AI talent, the city is positioning itself as a leading force in the global AI landscape. The future of AI development in Montréal looks promising, with numerous opportunities for both startups and established tech giants alike.
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for more insights into the growing AI ecosystem in Montréal and the innovative companies shaping its future.
