Beyond the Hype: Cohere‘s nick Frosst on Building AI for Business, Not Just Chat
Nick Frosst isn’t your typical AI executive. While many in the field chase the dream of artificial general intelligence (AGI) adn consumer-facing chatbots, Frosst is laser-focused on a different path: building practical, secure AI solutions for the enterprise. He co-founded Cohere in 2019, after foundational work alongside Geoffrey Hinton at Google, alongside Aidan Gomez and Ivan Zhang.But Frosst’s story extends beyond the world of algorithms and large language models. He’s also a musician, leading the indie rock band Good Kid, a group of programmers who even played Lollapalooza last year. this duality - the analytical mind of an AI researcher and the creative spirit of a musician – offers a unique viewpoint on the current AI landscape.
A Different Vision for AI
Frosst believes the immense potential of AI lies not in replacing human interaction, but in augmenting human capabilities, particularly within businesses.This philosophy drives Cohere’s strategy, which prioritizes security, privacy, and real-world submission.
here’s how Cohere is putting that vision into practice:
Enterprise Partnerships: They collaborate with major players like Fujitsu, Bell, and Oracle, integrating AI into existing business workflows.
Agentic AI with North: Their platform,North,focuses on “agentic AI” – systems designed to proactively assist users with complex tasks.
Synthetic Data for Robust Training: Cohere is leveraging synthetic datasets to train its models, ensuring they’re well-equipped to handle the nuances of business data.
“When we train our model, we’re not training it to be an amazing conversationist with you,” Frosst explains. “we’re building tools to solve specific problems and empower your workforce.”
Why Business AI Matters More
Frosst isn’t dismissive of consumer AI, but he argues its business applications are far more impactful. He sees a future where AI streamlines operations, enhances decision-making, and unlocks new levels of productivity.
Consider this: you likely don’t want AI to automate everything in your life. As Frosst himself points out, he doesn’t want AI to write text messages to his mother for him. He values the personal connection and the act of dialogue itself.
This sentiment underscores a crucial point. You want to choose* what you automate, and you want AI to support your goals, not dictate them.
A Focus on Augmentation, Not Automation
This distinction is central to Cohere’s approach. They’re not aiming to replace jobs; they’re aiming to make your existing team more effective. They believe AI should handle repetitive tasks and provide valuable insights, freeing up your employees to focus on strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.
“if I look at my personal life, there’s not a ton that I want to automate,” Frosst shared. “I actually don’t want to respond to text messages from my mom faster-I want to do it more frequently enough, but I want to be writing those.”
Ultimately,Frosst’s vision for AI is grounded in a pragmatic understanding of human needs and business realities. It’s a vision that prioritizes value,security,and a future where AI empowers you,rather than replaces you.
