Microsoft Invests in French AI Startup Mistral to Expand Beyond OpenAI
Microsoft partners with European AI startup Mistral, making it the second company to host its models on Azure. The move comes as Microsoft faces increasing antitrust scrutiny over its massive OpenAI investment.
Microsoft announces a new partnership with French startup Mistral AI, investing 15 million euros into the 10-month-old company. This strategic move makes Mistral the second artificial intelligence firm to host its large language models on Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform, following OpenAI. As part of the deal, Mistral also launches its multilingual conversational assistant, "Le Chat," to attract new customers globally.
Microsoft President Brad Smith highlights the significance of this partnership at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, calling it a major step in the company's technology support for Europe. He emphasizes that Microsoft is committing its AI infrastructure to help Mistral train and deploy its next-generation models immediately. The investment includes dedicated funding for research and development, specifically focusing on AI models for European public sector services.
This expansion into European AI emerges as Microsoft faces growing scrutiny from EU antitrust regulators regarding its reported $13 billion investment in OpenAI. Smith denies that the Mistral deal is simply an effort to appease competition concerns, stating instead that Microsoft is committed to offering a diverse range of products. He stresses that the goal is to ensure that the AI revolution serves as an engine for technology, innovation, and economic growth within Europe.