Cohere, a prominent AI startup valued at $5.5 billion, has partnered with Palantir to deploy its AI models to the latter's customers, according to a recent video presentation by Palantir. This development raises questions about the potential use of Cohere's AI in military or intelligence-related applications, despite the company's refusal to comment on the matter.

Cohere, co-founded by one of the authors of the influential 'Attention is All You Need' paper, has focused on selling AI to enterprises rather than developing a viral consumer chatbot. The partnership with Palantir, which has close ties with US defense and intelligence agencies, has sparked concerns about the potential use of Cohere's AI in sensitive or controversial contexts.

The video presentation, given by Cohere engineer and former Palantir employee Billy Trend at Palantir's DevCon1 conference in November 2024, revealed that Cohere's models are already being used by unnamed Palantir customers. Trend highlighted the deployment of Cohere's AI with a Palantir customer that has strict data storage constraints and requires Arabic language support, showcasing Cohere's capabilities in this area.

Palantir customers can access Cohere's latest AI models through 'compute modules' within Foundry, one of Palantir's flagship platforms geared towards commercial customers. While this implies that Cohere's AI may be used by corporations, the lack of transparency on specific customers and use cases has raised concerns about potential military or intelligence-related applications.

Cohere has previously touted partnerships with major tech companies like Fujitsu but has remained quiet about its deal with Palantir. When asked about the potential use of its AI in military or intelligence-related contexts, Cohere declined to comment. Palantir, which has published a manifesto on rebuilding the defense-tech sector, also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The development comes as other AI startups, such as OpenAI, are also being used by defense tech companies. OpenAI recently penned a deal with Anduril, highlighting the growing trend of AI adoption in the defense sector. As AI startups continue to partner with defense and intelligence agencies, concerns about the ethical implications and potential risks of these collaborations are likely to intensify.

The partnership between Cohere and Palantir underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of AI technologies. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for companies, policymakers, and the public to engage in open and informed discussions about the potential risks and benefits of AI adoption in various sectors.