Cohere just launched ‘North’ in a big bet to bring AI to privacy-focused enterprises

Microsoft’s Copilot and Google Vertex AI face new competition as Cohere launches North, a secure AI workspace platform designed specifically for enterprise deployment in regulated industries.

The platform overview: North combines large language models, search capabilities, and automation tools in a secure environment that prioritizes data privacy and control.

• The platform can be deployed in private cloud environments or on-premises installations
• North includes Compass, a built-in search system that processes multiple data types including images, presentations, spreadsheets, and documents across languages
• Internal testing indicates Compass reduces task completion times by over 80% compared to manual searches

Performance metrics: Cohere’s internal benchmarks demonstrate North’s superior performance against competing platforms, particularly in specialized business functions.

• While all platforms performed well in automated tests, North maintained consistent accuracy under human review
• The platform showed particular strength in finance and IT operations
• Microsoft Copilot achieved only 29% relative accuracy compared to North in IT-related tasks

Strategic partnerships: Early adoption signals promising enterprise integration, with major financial institutions leading the way.

• Royal Bank of Canada has partnered with Cohere to develop North for Banking, a specialized version for financial institutions
• Early testers include companies across finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors
• The platform enables employees to build and customize AI tools without technical expertise

Market positioning: Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez emphasizes a shift away from computational scale toward practical implementation and data quality.

• Gomez highlights data quality and synthetic data as key drivers of progress rather than computational power
• The approach has made Cohere “an order of magnitude more capital efficient” than competitors
• The company targets regulated industries where data security has traditionally limited AI adoption

Impact on enterprise AI adoption: The competitive landscape for enterprise AI solutions is evolving beyond raw computational capabilities.

• Enterprises are seeking customized solutions rather than adapted consumer AI chatbots
• Security and customization are becoming primary considerations over processing power
• The platform is currently available through an early access program

Beyond the hype: While North’s launch represents a significant development in enterprise AI, its true impact will depend on real-world implementation and sustained performance advantages over established competitors. The focus on security and customization addresses key enterprise concerns, but maintaining this edge will require continuous innovation as Microsoft and Google enhance their offerings.