Cohere expects to spend more than C$4 billion on Canadian AI infrastructure and research and development through 2031, while adding more than 1,500 jobs in the country. Its expansion includes at least 1,000 expected positions in technical fields, with research, product development and engineering among the areas targeted. The spending covers an effort that began in 2024, so the total includes investment spanning an existing program alongside new commitments.
The company also plans to provide more than 250 paid positions for students by 2029, an earlier deadline than its broader hiring target. Cohere says those jobs will give students practical AI experience and help them pursue careers within Canada. Its investment is expected to reach several provinces, supporting both the development of AI technology and the infrastructure needed to operate it.
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Cohere intends to build university and research connections across Canada, beginning with collaborations recently announced with the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto. Those partnerships extend relationships it already has with Mila, Amii and Vector. The company says it wants those connections to help turn Canadian research into AI systems that organizations put to work across the economy.
A central aim is to help Canadian organizations progress beyond AI experiments and use the technology in production, according to Cohere. The company cites a substantial adoption gap: in 2025, only 12% of businesses in Canada reported using AI in making goods or providing services. It says the Bank of Canada has identified broader AI use as an opportunity to raise productivity, support wage growth and encourage investment.
Cohere links its plans to Canada's national AI strategy, whose ambitions include a 3% increase in GDP and up to 250,000 jobs related to AI by 2031. The company says reaching those national goals requires greater use of AI by businesses and public institutions. It also aims to keep more of the economic value from Canadian AI development within the country.
The investment update follows Cohere's October 8 announcement of its first Ottawa office, intended to accommodate its expanding team in the capital. Cohere cited Ottawa's technical workforce and research community as reasons for establishing that location.
