Cohere's "North" expands secure AI agents for enterprises
Toronto-based Cohere says its new platform, North, will enable enterprises with high data security requirements to use agentic AI at scale within a company's own infrastructure.
North integrates generative and search models from Cohere, supports customisable agents, and provides workflow automations for efficiency and accuracy. The platform connects with internal and external services, consolidating organisational data securely, while offering context-aware solutions that are built with a focus on privacy and security. North requires minimal infrastructure, functioning with as few as two GPUs.
North's design supports comprehensive customisation across technical stack layers, including domain-specific models and adaptable user experiences. Enterprises can enhance North by integrating internal knowledge bases and proprietary data. The system allows for controlled sharing and feature access, tailored by user or team, supporting specific enterprise requirements.
"By enabling private deployment, we give companies the confidence to put their data into AI, with the efficiency to offer a cost of ownership that makes sense at scale," stated Cohere in a release.
The platform is moving from serving a limited group of customers to wider availability, following several months of operation. Notable organisations using Cohere's secure AI agents include RBC, Dell, LG CNS, and Bell.
Last week, Cohere announced its data sovereignty partnership with Bell. Through the program, both parties will work to provide sovereign AI solutions for government and enterprise customers throughout Canada.
Core functions
The interface allows non-technical users to build agents capable of repetitive tasks, data analysis, and system-wide operations. Key capabilities include chat and search for quick information response, and integrations connecting to workplace services such as Gmail, Slack, Salesforce, Outlook, and SharePoint.
Additionally, users can create assets for automated document drafting and analysis. Automated workflows enable businesses to streamline tasks ranging from simple CRM updates to more complex processes.
Cohere states North has been developed with a security-first approach, enabling organisations to deploy AI agents inside their own controlled environments. Its architecture is suitable for resource-conscious deployments, on premises, in hybrid clouds, VPCs, or airgapped infrastructure.
The platform incorporates granular access controls, integrating with identity and access management systems. It features permissions and administration tools to restrict sensitive data or agent access to authorised users only. Autonomy policies limit agent action to authorised operations, with human oversight required for significant decisions.
Security testing and full system observability support proactive threat mitigation, while deployment choices and compliance measures support adherence to various international security regulations.
Notably, Dell is working with Cohere to secure customer data while employees use AI in workflows. Caitlin Gordon, Vice President, Dell Technologies, said North is being integrated into finance, sales and customer support workflows.
"Together Dell Technologies and Cohere are offering on-premises solutions that secure our customers' data and offer an AI advantage. By reducing barriers to adoption and streamlining workflows – including building and deploying agentic AI, we are providing the foundation needed to thrive in a data-driven world," said Gordon.
