Canadian artificial intelligence company Cohere has signed a letter of intent to acquire AISLE, a cybersecurity startup that uses AI to identify software vulnerabilities. The proposed acquisition could strengthen Cohere’s cybersecurity capabilities as businesses face growing security challenges from increasingly advanced AI systems.
Announced on 15 October 2026, the deal would bring AISLE’s technology and engineering team into Cohere’s expanding AI business. The financial terms have not been disclosed. The transaction has not yet been confirmed as completed.
AISLE uses AI to find software vulnerabilities
Founded in 2025, AISLE develops AI systems designed to discover and help remediate security vulnerabilities in software. The startup was founded by Ondrej Vlcek, former chief executive of antivirus company Avast, alongside co-founders with experience at Google DeepMind and Anthropic.
AISLE said its technology had identified more than 500 previously unknown software vulnerabilities during its first year. These included 12 vulnerabilities in OpenSSL, software widely used to encrypt internet communications. The reported vulnerabilities were fixed after their discovery.
The findings highlight how AI tools could help security researchers examine complex software and identify weaknesses that might otherwise remain undiscovered.
Why Cohere wants AISLE
The proposed acquisition would add cybersecurity capabilities to Cohere’s enterprise AI business. The company aims to help organisations deploy AI while maintaining control over sensitive data and strengthening their security systems.
Cohere is also expanding its European presence through its combination with Germany’s Aleph Alpha. AISLE’s engineering hub in Prague would become part of that broader European footprint.
According to Reuters, Ondrej Vlcek is expected to lead Cohere’s new cybersecurity division. AISLE’s chief operating officer, Jaya Baloo, is expected to become Cohere’s chief information security officer.
The deal is intended to strengthen security and threat detection for enterprise and public-sector customers, including organisations that need AI systems deployed within their own infrastructure.
AI cybersecurity becomes increasingly important
As companies adopt AI across software development and business operations, protecting applications and digital infrastructure is becoming more important. AI can help security teams identify vulnerabilities, but increasingly capable AI systems can also introduce new risks.
Cohere’s proposed acquisition reflects the growing interest in combining AI development with defensive security technology. Bringing AISLE’s specialised expertise into the company could help it develop more comprehensive security solutions for businesses and government organisations.
However, the acquisition’s eventual impact will depend on how the companies integrate their technology and whether their combined products deliver measurable improvements.
For now, the proposed deal marks another development in the expanding AI cybersecurity market. If completed, it would give Cohere additional expertise in software vulnerability detection as it continues to build its enterprise AI business.
