Business

Aleph Alpha and Cohere Partner for Secure AI Solutions

German AI firm Aleph Alpha and Canadian company Cohere have announced a partnership to develop a secure AI alternative for government agencies and regulated sectors, aiming to reduce reliance on major US providers. The initiative, unveiled in Berlin with the participation of Canada’s Digital Minister Evan Solomon and Germany’s Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger, will feature applications that can operate without internet connectivity. The Schwarz Group is investing approximately 500 million euros to support the venture, with cloud provider Stackit supplying the necessary technical infrastructure.

UK Sees Lowest New Business Startups in Q1 2026

The UK experienced the lowest number of new businesses established in the first quarter of 2026, attributed to tax increases under the Labour government and the ongoing war in Iran, according to the Office of National Statistics. In response to rising energy prices exacerbated by the conflict, the government is increasing support for affected businesses.