Bell and Cohere Unite to Power Canadian AI Innovation
Bell Canada has partnered with Toronto-based AI company Cohere to bring cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools to Canadian businesses and governments. This powerful alliance not only promises to revolutionize productivity across industries but also offers a much-needed homegrown alternative to U.S. tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft.
As part of the deal, Bell will provide access to Cohere’s large language model, North, through its enterprise platform and data centers. This means Canadian organizations can now build custom AI agents while keeping their sensitive data within Canadian borders.
Driving Sovereignty and Smart Solutions
Sovereignty is more than a buzzword in this partnership—it’s a driving force. In light of past geopolitical tensions and growing digital dependency on foreign tech, the companies are making national data protection a central selling point.
“If there are two equal products, and one is Canadian, we all want to support our country,” said Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez.
Bell will host North on Canadian infrastructure, ensuring local control over AI deployment and data handling. This approach appeals to businesses and governments seeking digital autonomy.
From Conversation to Collaboration
Interestingly, the partnership got a push from Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation. After meeting with Bell CEO Mirko Bibic, Solomon encouraged collaboration with Canadian tech companies like Cohere. That conversation proved to be a turning point.
“That was a catalyst for me to get more directly involved,” Bibic shared.
The two companies had been in early talks, but this ministerial nudge accelerated their plans.
Boosting Adoption and Canadian Innovation
Despite its Canadian roots, Cohere generates over 90% of its revenue from outside the country. Gomez believes that is starting to shift thanks to rising demand for locally built AI platforms and partnerships like this one.
The firm’s software—already in use by RBC—helps teams draft emails, review budgets, and prepare meeting summaries, all through intelligent automation. Cohere’s annual revenue has already doubled to $100 million this year.
Bell’s AI Ambitions and New Tools
For Bell, this collaboration signals a deeper dive into AI. Internally, the telecom leader is deploying AI-powered tools to boost efficiency and improve customer support.
Some standout applications include:
A virtual repair tool for customers
A smart dispatch system for field technicians
AI-enhanced call center assistants that coach representatives in real-time
“There’s still a call rep there, but the experience is now so much better,” Bibic explained.
Although AI adoption often leads to staff reductions in other industries, Bibic stressed that Bell’s approach enhances, rather than replaces, human skills.
Building Canada’s Largest AI Cluster
Bell is backing this push with real infrastructure. It’s investing in six AI-focused data centers in British Columbia, two of which will be online by early 2025. Once complete, they will form the largest AI computing cluster in Canada.
Additionally, Bell has unified its tech consulting units under a new brand, Ateko, focused on helping customers integrate AI solutions.
Government Support for a National Strategy
The federal government is actively supporting Cohere’s growth. Through the $2-billion Sovereign Compute Program, Ottawa has provided the company with $240 million to fund the development of new AI models. The models will be trained at a soon-to-open Ontario data center, operated by CoreWeave, a U.S.-based company with local facilities.
Though Solomon didn’t mention specific government projects, Cohere previously announced a federal partnership to improve AI-based productivity tools.
A Turning Point for Canadian AI
This partnership between Bell and Cohere marks a milestone for Canada’s AI sector. By offering secure, sovereign alternatives to foreign providers, they’re helping Canadian organizations gain access to world-class technology without compromising national data integrity.
The move also strengthens the country’s standing as one of the few global hubs building foundational AI models—a position once dominated by U.S. and Chinese firms.
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