Cohere, the Canadian enterprise AI unicorn, announced that it would merge with Germany-based Aleph Alpha. The deal is valued at $20 billion and has attracted investment from one of Aleph Alpha’s top backers, Schwarz Group, which will invest $600 million in Cohere's Series E round.

According to the press release, the goal of this merger is to provide businesses and governments with an alternative that offers greater independence and control over their data. However, despite this aim, some may question whether a single deal can truly disrupt the current landscape dominated by dominant tech players.

The announcement comes amidst consolidation in the AI commercial landscape, as firms continue to seek partnerships and acquisitions to bolster their offerings. This move could potentially create a 'transatlantic AI powerhouse' with a talent pool spanning both continents, but only time will tell if it will significantly impact the industry.

What does this mean for humanity? While the merger aims to offer greater control over data, it remains to be seen how effective this can be in practice. The power of AI lies not just in its technology, but also in its application and regulation.